Environmental influences on antibiotic activity and resistance can wreak havoc with in vivo antibiotic efficacy and, ultimately, antimicrobial chemotherapy. In nature, bacteria encounter a variety of metal ions, particularly copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), as contaminants in soil and water, as feed additives in agriculture, as clinically-used antimicrobials, and as components of human antibacterial responses. Importantly, there is a growing body of evidence for Cu/Zn driving antibiotic resistance development in metal-exposed bacteria, owing to metal selection of genetic elements harbouring both metal and antibiotic resistance genes, and metal recruitment of antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Many classes of antibiotics also form complexes with metal cations, including Cu and Zn, and this can hinder (or enhance) antibiotic activity. This review highlights the ways in which Cu/Zn influence antibiotic resistance development and antibiotic activity, and in so doing impact in vivo antibiotic efficacy.

环境对抗生素活性和耐药性的影响可能在体内造成严重破坏抗生素功效，以及最终的抗菌化学疗法。在自然界中，细菌会遇到各种金属离子，特别是铜（Cu）和锌（Zn），作为土壤和水中的污染物，作为农业中的饲料添加剂，作为临床使用的抗菌剂，以及作为人类抗菌反应的组成部分。重要的是，由于金属对同时携带金属和抗生素抗性基因的遗传元素的选择以及对抗生素抗性机制的金属募集，越来越多的证据表明Cu / Zn驱动金属暴露细菌中的抗生素抗性发展。许多种类的抗生素还与金属阳离子（包括Cu和Zn）形成复合物，这会阻碍（或增强）抗生素的活性。体内抗生素疗效。