The research and development work of TROCAR Project is structured in 8 Workpackages with particular objectives

WP1. Project coordination activities

• Simple and robust management system.
• To ensure and support efficient internal management of TROCAR: efficient communication between the coordination core and the Commission.
• Agreement upon good working practices, project principles and production.
• Adherence to the tolerances and acceptance criteria for each workpackage.
• Delivery of regular financial and progress reports to EC.

WP2. The Epidemiology and Data Exchange Platform

• To establish, maintain and consolidate the coherence of existing European and national network structures of antimicrobial resistance surveillance and reference services.
• To establish the necessary criteria for inclusion of pathogens into the state-of-the-art research line.
• To create an inventory of strains of bacterial pathogens with emerging importance for public health.
• To analyse the geographic abundance and migration patterns of HiRiC.

WP3. Comparative genomics and proteomics of established and emerging MRSA epidemic clones

• To establish a catalogue of MRSA clones circulating in Europe.
• Comparative genomics of MRSA clones.
• To investigate the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the S. aureus isolates circulating in Europe.
• Identification of new highly discriminative targets for the rapid differentiation of clones and for intervention.

WP4. Deciphering vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium

• To establish a catalogue of VRE clones circulating in Europe.
• Comparative genomics of VRE clones.
• To analyse the structure and composition of vancomycin resistance plasmids.
• Comparative proteomics of VRE clones.

WP5. Extended-spectrum, metallo- and acquired AmpC beta- lactamase (ESMAC-BL) emerging threats in Enterobacteriaceae

• Surveillance data collection on ESMAC-BL in Europe.
• Identification of emerging successful clones (HiRiC) and mobile element harbouring ESMAC-BL genes.
• Genomics of selected plasmids harbouring ESMAC-BL genes.
• Physiology, ecology, and virulence of ESMAC-BL producing organisms.
• Rapid detection of ESMAC-BL producing organisms: influence on intervention.

WP6. Genomics, drug resistance and physiology of MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii strains

Objectives

• To identify representatives of widespread MDR clones.
• Analysis of the resistome of the selected strains for resistance determinants.
• Investigation of uncommon/still unclear mechanisms for clinically relevant resistance traits.
• Comparative genomic analysis of some MDR strains/R-plasmids.
• Analysis of virulence traits of MDR A. baumannii strains and interaction with biofilm.

WP7. Computational biology and evolutionary analysis

• Establishment of databases.
• Complete genome sequencing of bacterial chromosomes.
• Multilocus sequence data based on mobile elements.
• Complete genome sequencing of mobile elements.

WP8. Dissemination and exploitation

• Dissemination.
• Exploitation results.