In this proposal the PIs medical microbiology background and previous internationally acknowledged work on molecular persistence mechanism of the gram-negative bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is exploited towards a novel approach that could change the current paradigm of antibiotic resistance testing. Emerging resistance towards antimicrobials marks this decade and the lack of new therapy options especially against gram-negative pathogens underscores the need for optimisation of current diagnostics, therapies and prevention of the spread of these organisms.The overall objective of this proposal is to apply a multi-disciplinary approach that combines clinical microbiology, state-of-the-art research on molecular resistance mechanisms, next generation-sequencing and array technology to uncover all genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance and to apply research towards the development of innovative molecular diagnostic platforms for rapid detection of resistance in order to accomplish individualised infection control measures, to reduce morbidity and mortality of the patients and to significantly reduce health care costs. The project will be performed at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig which harbors a vast scientific and instrumental infrastructure and is perfectly suited for this type of pioneer research. Molecular diagnostics does not only provide a fast prediction of resistance based on the bacteria´s genotype but when performed directly in patients specimens has promise to transform medical microbiological diagnostics.