The Delftia Project
Unlocking the secrets of Delftia acidovorans — a remarkable bacterium that biomineralizes gold, thrives in toxic environments, and holds promise for bioremediation and biotechnology.
What is Delftia acidovorans?
Delftia acidovorans is a gram-negative, non-fermentative bacterium first identified in Delft, Netherlands, in soil enriched with acetamide. It thrives in habitats containing high concentrations of heavy metals — copper, cobalt, and even gold — and produces a nonribosomal peptide that allows it to precipitate gold out of solution, avoiding toxicity.
Today, Delftia is found in waste-contaminated soil, water systems, and drains. Beyond its remarkable environmental capabilities, it is studied as an opportunistic pathogen and explored for applications in:
Gold Biomineralization E-Waste Recycling Bioremediation Genomics Undergraduate Research
Research Highlights
Three pillars of the Delftia Project — from the classroom to the community
Undergraduate Research
Students in MB 360 and LSC 170 engage in hands-on course-based research experiences — growing Delftia in the lab, analyzing spot plates, and dissecting "Microbial Superheroes" publications.
Genomics & Automation
High-throughput sequencing and automation tools help us decode the genome of Delftia. BLAST analyses, bioinformatics pipelines, and cloud computing accelerate discovery.
Citizen Science
Community annotators collaborate via Hypothes.is to mine the scientific literature on Delftia as a pathogen, gold-biomineralizing agent, and e-waste recycler.
Lab Gallery
Spot Plate — 48 hrs
MB 360 course-based research
LSC 170 — Microbial Superheroes
Publication analysis workshop
BLAST Analysis
Reverse primer sequence search
Citizen Science
Community annotation project
Interested in Joining the Delftia Project?
Whether you are an undergraduate student, educator, or citizen scientist — there is a place for you. Help us uncover the biology and applications of one of nature's most fascinating microbes.
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