Complete nucleotide sequence of Ralstonia pickettii type strain K-288. Ralstonia pickettii type strain K-288

Ralstonia pickettii is a Gram-negative bacterium of the Burkholderiaceae family that is ubiquitously found in water and soil. Recently, R. pickettii has emerged as a rising nosocomial pathogen responsible for causing infections with varied degrees of severity in the most vulnerable patients in hospital settings. This has been attributed to the resilience of R. pickettii in hospital water sources and the species’ intrinsic and acquired resistance to diverse antibiotic classes. Here, short (Illumina) and long (PacBio and Nanopore) read sequencing technologies were used to sequence and assemble the complete genome of R. pickettii type strain K-288 (DSM 6297, ATCC 27511, NCTC 11149, NBRC 102503). The final genome for this strain includes two chromosomes of 3.4 and 1.4 Mb and a plasmid of 51.4 kb, with a benchmarking universal single-copy orthologous genes (BUSCO) completeness level of 99.5%. The presented R. pickettii genome assembly has reference-level quality and can help pave the way for investigations of the genomic underpinnings of the species resilience to water treatments and antibiotics, and of its evolution as a nosocomial human pathogen. This understanding can ultimately inform the development of successful control practices.