First complete genome sequences ofStreptococcus pyogenesNCTC 8198Tand CCUG 4207T, the type strain of the type species of the genusStreptococcus: 100% match in length and sequence identity between PacBio solo and Illumina plus Oxford Nanopore hybrid assemblies

We present the first complete, closed genome sequences ofStreptococcus pyogenesstrains NCTC 8198Tand CCUG 4207T, the type strain of the type species of the genusStreptococcusand an important human pathogen that causes a wide range of infectious diseases.S. pyogenesNCTC 8198Tand CCUG 4207Tare derived from deposit of the same strain at two different culture collections. NCTC 8198Twas sequenced, using a PacBio platform; the genome sequence was assembledde novo, using HGAP. CCUG 4207Twas sequenced and ade novohybrid assembly was generated, using SPAdes, combining Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequence reads. Both strategies, yielded closed genome sequences of 1,914,862 bp, identical in length and sequence identity. Combining short-read Illumina and long-read Oxford Nanopore sequence data circumvented the expected error rate of the nanopore sequencing technology, producing a genome sequence indistinguishable to the one determined with PacBio. Sequence analyses revealed five prophage regions, a CRISPR-Cas system, numerous virulence factors and no relevant antibiotic resistance genes.These two complete genome sequences of the type strain ofS. pyogeneswill effectively serve as valuable taxonomic and genomic references for infectious disease diagnostics, as well as references for future studies and applications within the genusStreptococcus.