)[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.