干扰素在1957年被发现。最初,人们认为干扰素只在保护机体免受病毒感染中起作用。直到1970年,人们才认为干扰素被诱生及发挥保护作用不应只局限于病毒,可能还包括其它的微生物。如细菌及其代谢产物可以诱导干扰素形成并在非病毒病原感染时,干扰素对机体可以发挥保护作用。已知衣原体、立克次氏体、原虫、真菌和细菌具有干扰素诱生活性。既能在体内外诱导干扰素产生的细菌有布鲁氏菌、分枝杆菌、沙门氏菌、大肠杆菌、葡萄球菌以及它们的代谢产物。无论是在干扰素形成的动力学或是干扰素的特性方面,由病毒和细菌诱生的干扰素都是不相同的。多数病毒在进入机体4～12小时后可诱生干扰素。而细菌的内毒素或其它微生物产物进入机体2小时 Interferon was discovered in 1957. Initially, interferon was thought to play a role only in protecting the body from viral infections. It was not until 1970 that the idea that interferon was induced and exerted its protective effect should not be confined to viruses but might include other microbes. Such as bacteria and their metabolites can induce the formation of interferon and interferon on the body can play a protective role in the non-viral pathogen infection. Chlamydia, rickettsia, protozoa, fungi and bacteria are known to have interferon-inducing activity. Bacteria that can induce interferon production both in vitro and in vivo are Brucella, Mycobacterium, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus and their metabolites. Both interferon-induced by viruses and bacteria are different in terms of the kinetics of interferon formation or the properties of interferons. Most viruses enter the body 4 to 12 hours after induction of interferon. Bacterial endotoxin or other microbial products enter the body for 2 hours