Effect　of　copper　(Cu)　on　antibiotic　resistance　genes　(ARGs)　and　bacterial/archaeal　community　of　activated　sludge　under　gradient　increasing　(0.5-10　mg/L)　or　decreasing　exposure　(10-0.5　mg/L)　modes　was　explored.　Here,　29　genes　were　detected　among　48　selected　ARGs　and　mobile　gene　elements　(MGEs).　Two　exposure　modes　showed　dissimilar　effects　on　ARGs　and　distribution　was　more　affected　by　environmental　concentrations　of　Cu,　which　promoted　transmission　of　ARGs　(multiple　drug　resistance　and　sulfonamide).　Cellular　protection　was　main　resistance　mechanism,　which　was　less　inhibited　than　efflux　pumps.　The　tnpA-02,　as　main　MGE,　interacted　closely　with　ARGs　(sul2,　floR,　etc.).　Gradient　increasing　exposure　mode　had　more　effects　on　bacterial/archaeal　structure　and　composition.　Bacteria　were　main　hosts　for　specific　ARGs　and　tnpA-02,　while　archaea　carried　multiple　ARGs　(cmx(A),　adeA,　etc.),　and　bacteria　(24.24　%)　contributed　more　to　changes　of　ARGs　than　archaea　(19.29　%).　This　study　clarified　the　impacts　of　Cu　on　the　proliferation　and　transmission　of　ARGs.