217 closed Salmonella reference genomes using PacBio sequencing

Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is widely used in food safety for the detection, investigation, and control of foodborne bacterial pathogens. However, the WGS data in most public databases, such as the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), primarily consist of Illumina short reads which lack some important information for repetitive regions, structural variations, and mobile genetic elements, and the genomic location of certain important genes like antimicrobial resistance genes (AMR) and virulence genes. To address this limitation, we have contributed 217 closed circular Salmonella enterica genomes that were generated using PacBio sequencing to the NCBI Pathogen Detection (PD) database and GenBank. This dataset provides a higher level of accuracy to genome representations in the database.

High-quality complete reference genomes generated from PacBio long reads can provide essential details that are not available in draft genomes from short reads. A complete reference genome allows for more accurate data analysis and researchers to establish connections between genome variations and known genes, regulatory elements, and other genomic features. The addition of 217 complete genomes from 78 different Salmonella serovars, each representing either a distinct SNP cluster within the NCBI PD database or a unique strain, significantly enriches the diversity of the reference genome database.