Alcaligenes eutrophus

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Ralstonia eutrophus (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria Phylum: Proteobacteria Class: Beta Proteobacteria Order: Burkholderiales Family: Alcaligenaceae Genus: Alcaligenes Species: A. eutrophus
Binomial name
Alcaligenes eutrophus Davis 1969

Alcaligenes eutrophus is a bacterial species that naturally produces polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). PHA's are a broad type of biodegradable polymers that can be used for biodegradable plastics. A. eutrophus specifically produces polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), which it uses for storing carbon when in an environment with abundant carbon, but limited essential nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorus. The gene for PHB production has been cloned and engineered into plants.

The name Alcaligenes eutrophus is no longer used. After modification to Ralstonia eutrophus and then Wausteria eutrophus, the name is now Cupriavidus necator.^{[citation needed]}