Cupriavidus metallidurans

)[2] Cupriavidus metallidurans is a non-spore-forming, Gram-negative bacterium which is adapted to survive several forms of heavy metal stress.

[3][4][5] Cupriavidus metallidurans is a bacterial species that belongs to the same family as Ralstonia solanacearum, a plant pathogen.

[6] This species is of ecological and industrial importance, as its relatives dominate mesophilic environments contaminated with heavy metals.

[9] Strain CH34 has adapted to these harsh conditions through multiple heavy-metal resistance systems, encoded by the two indigenous megaplasmids, pMOL28 and pMOL30, on its chromosome(s).

[11][12][13] A case of a 74 year old man infected with Cupriavidus metallidurans has been documented,[14] possibly raising concerns about the safety of using the bacteria for industrial purposes.

A scanning electron microscope image of a gold nugget, revealing bacterioform (bacteria-shaped) structures