Background: Bacteria can thrive in environments presenting unique, extreme and/or stressful conditions, partly due to the diverse resistome they evolved as a result of physiological, metabolic and genetic adaptations. In this context, the microbial communities in soils from abandoned uranium mines may have peculiar genetic profiles that sustain valuable metal-resistance mechanisms. Getting further knowledge on the genetic potential of these microbial communities can be a contribute for developing bioremediation strategies towards the reclamation of highly contaminated uranium mine soils. Objectives: To quantify metal-resistance genes harboured by the microbial community of soil samples collected in an abandoned Portuguese uranium mine. Methods: Microbial DNA was extracted (ISO/CD 11063) from soil samples collected in a reference site and in 5 sampling sites located progressively more distant from the mine area. The abundance of the functional genes involved in metal-resistance mechanisms, copA (Cu resistance) and sodA (overall stress response) was estimated through quantitative PCR (qPCR) (ISO/FDIS 17601), and expressed relatively to the respective number of copies of 16S rRNA gene or Gammaproteobacteria-specific 16S rRNA gene. Soil metal concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma. Results: The profile obtained for both metal-resistance genes, either relatively to universal 16S or Gammaproteobacteria gene abundances was similar, thereby suggesting the dominance of Gammaproteobacteria in soil samples. The gene sodA was more abundant than copA, irrespectively of the soils. Notwithstanding, the number of copies of sodA was surprisingly higher in the soils located outside the mine area. Apparently, the microbial community is already modulated by the contamination profile.