Lactobacilli, identified as one of the most common members of intestinal microbiota, have been applied and studied considerably. They are often considered as probiotics for animal or human. The Lactobacilli play an important physiological role in the host throug179h adherence and colonization in the intestinal tract, including digestion and absorption of nutrients, protection against pathogen colonization and immune modulation. This article has reviewed the cell surface architecture and adherence mechanism of Lactobacilli in the host. The cell surface proteins such as surface layer protein (S-layer protein), sortase-dependent proteins (SDPs), mucus-binding proteins and mediating proteins adhesion to extracellular matrices, as well as teichoic acids and exopolysaccharides were discussed in this article.［Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition，2011，23（2）：179-186］