ObjectiveTo review the characteristics of human defensin 5 (HD-5), including molecular structure, antibacterial activity and gene expression, and to show its development prospect as a new drug in the treatment of enterogenic infection. MethodsThe published papers about HD-5 were reviewed to summarize its research progress. ResultsBeing a 3-5 KDa cationic peptide rich in cysteine and arginine, especially without glycosylated side-chain, HD-5 plays its antibacterial role against positive and negative Gram’s bacterium, fungi, spirochete, protozoan and enveloped virus with the special active center composed of three disulfide bonds. HD-5 encoding gene alpha defensin 5 (DEFA5) localizes at the 8th chromosome P21-pter with 449 bp, which includes five pieces of sequence: 5′ untranslated region (1-40)，signal peptide (41-97), propiece (98-226), mature peptide (227-322)，and Poly A (433-438).ConclusionAs a broad-spectrum and effective endogenous antimicrobial peptide, HD-5 would be a promising alternative peptide against enterogenic infection if the accessibility to its mass production is settled.