质粒介导的接合转移过程被认为是抗生素抗性基因水平转移的最主要的作用机制，进一步导致抗生素抗性基因在不同的微生物之间，甚至致病菌和非致病菌之间相互传播，严重威胁着人类健康。环境中的重金属通过共选择作用促进抗生素抗性基因的累积，同时也能够调控接合质粒在不同土壤微生物之间的转移过程而影响抗生素抗性基因在环境中的扩散。因此，本项目拟以废弃铜矿区多种重金属长期污染土壤为研究对象，基于高效流式细胞仪分选技术以及高通量测序技术研究长期重金属污染对土壤微生物群落质粒开放度的影响，系统分析群落水平、OTU水平质粒接收度的变化，同时采用高通量荧光定量PCR分析抗生素抗性基因丰度及分布特征，全面系统地阐述重金属污染对土壤环境中抗生素抗性基因分布特征和扩散机制的影响，以期为有效地控制抗性基因在环境中的传播扩散提供科学依据。

Conjugation is generally considered the most important HGT mechanism for transfer of antibiotic resistance between different bacterial even pathogens which confers great threats for human health. Stressors like metals can co-select for antibiotic resistance and modulate the potential for plasmid transfer within specific bacterial groups which promotes the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment. In this project, the effect of long-term heavy metal contamination in soil bacterial community permissiveness towards conjugal plasmids will be analyzed by high-resolution fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Bacterial permissiveness will be analyzed at community level, OTU level to illustrate the effect of environmental stressors on conjugal plasmid transfer among different bacterial communities. Besides, the diversity and richness of different antibiotic resistance genes in metal contaminated soil bacteria communities will be quantified by high throughput quantitative PCR. The aim of the study is to illustrate the effect of metals on the accumulation and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in soils bacterial communities and provide scientific basis and optimal management for elimination and mitigation of resistance genes.