Genome sequences provide fundamental information for both basic and applied life sciences. Whole-genome sequencing is now requested for describing novel prokaryotic species and designating their type strains, which serve as representative and well-characterized strains of the species. Indeed, the number of sequenced prokaryotic genomes has been rapidly increasing. However, a considerable number of isolated strains, particularly technically demanding strains such as strict anaerobes and slow growers, remain without genome sequence information. Here we report the whole-genome sequencing of 290 bacterial and 61 archaeal strains, including technically demanding type strains, obtained from the Japan Collection of Microorganisms (JCM) using a combination of short- and long-read sequencing technologies. The data set includes 284 type-strain genomes and 235 complete genomes. Notably, in the data set, genomes of more than 200 strains, including more than 150 type strains, have not been made publicly available. Comparative genomic analysis suggests that some strains need to be assigned to novel taxa or reclassified. Functional gene survey indicates that some strains possess previously unrecognized potential for carbon fixation or bioactive secondary metabolite production. Our data set will contribute to more accurate taxonomic classification, fill gaps in the phylogeny of prokaryotes, and provide insights into their physiology and ecology.
Kato et al. (2026) studied this question.