基因编码的抗菌肽广泛分布于昆虫、植物、动物及人体内，是先天性免疫防御系统的重要组成部分。抗菌肽不仅具有广谱抗细菌能力，还可以抗真菌、被膜病毒等多种微生物以及寄生虫。抗菌肽除了具有较强的直接杀灭有害微生物的活性外，还具有许多其他生物学功能，如抑制肿瘤细胞、中和内毒素以及抗炎等。它们还可以通过趋化树突状细胞、单核细胞和记忆T细胞，在先天性免疫（非特异性免疫）和获得性免疫（特异性免疫）反应之间起桥梁作用，并启动获得性免疫系统，提高机体抵抗微生物感染的获得性免疫水平。本文综述了抗菌肽的生物学作用、抗菌作用机制及其开发应用前景。

The gene-encoded antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are widely distributed in insects, plants, animals and the human bodies, and served as crucial components in the innate host defenses. In addition to their direct broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, some enveloped viruses and parasites, AMPs also show multiple biological activities including antitumor activity, neutralizing endotoxin, anti-inflammatory activity, and chemoattracting memory T cells, monocytes and dendritic cells. AMPs play an important role in the integration of the innate and acquired immune responses, starting the acquired immune system, and enhancing the body against microbial infections. This article has reviewed the multiple biological activities, mechanisms of antimicrobial action and the application prospects of AMPs.［Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition，2011，23（4）：546 -555］