Complete genome sequence of Streptococcus thermophilus ACA-DC 2. Genome of Streptococcus thermophilus ACA-DC 2

Although the Streptococcus genus includes mainly pathogenic species, Streptococcus thermophilus is a widely used dairy starter culture in the food industry. S. thermophilus has been adapted to milk probably through a degenerative evolution process that has led to the loss of typical streptococcal pathogenic traits. The genome sequence of the yogurt isolate S. thermophilus ACA-DC 2 was analyzed in order to shed light on its technological potential. The genome of S. thermophilus ACA-DC 2 was sequenced with a combined approach of Illumina HiSeq and PacBio sequencing technologies. The Illumina FASTQ sequences were assembled into contigs (ABySS 1.5.1). The latter were linked and placed into scaffolds based on the alignment of the PacBio continuous long read data. Finally, gap closure within the scaffolds was performed (GapFiller 1.10). The genome sequence was annotated using the RAST pipeline. The extensive use of S. thermophilus strains as starter cultures in dairy industry and the demand for qualitative and safe products, render the in silico analysis of the genome sequence of S. thermophilus ACA-DC 2, a useful tool for the exploitation of its technological potential.