细菌分泌系统参与细菌物质转运，是细菌蛋白或DNA胞外分泌的重要途径，与细菌的生长和致病性密切相关。迄今为止，已发现了Ⅰ～Ⅶ型分泌系统。Ⅰ～Ⅵ型分泌系统存在于革兰阴性菌中，其中Ⅳ型也存在于革兰阳性菌中；Ⅶ型则存在于革兰阳性菌中。 Ⅶ型分泌系统是近年来发现的一种特殊分泌系统，能介导病原微生物毒力蛋白分泌，与宿主相互作用，并参与细菌体内锌铁平衡等，在革兰阳性菌的生长代谢及致病过程中发挥重要作用。本文综述细菌Ⅶ型分泌系统的类型、功能及表达调控，以增进对这一新型细菌蛋白分泌机制的认识。

Bacterial secretion systems are responsible for the secretion of bacterial produced moleculars or DNA, and closely related to the growth and pathogenicity of bacteria. So far, seven types of secretion systems have been identified. TypesⅠ－Ⅵ exist in Gram－negatives and types Ⅳ and Ⅶ exist in Gram－positives. Type Ⅶ secretion system (T7SS) is identified recently. It is involved in the secretion of virulence－associated proteins, the interaction between pathogens and hosts, and the balance of zinc/iron ions, and is implicated in growth and pathogenesis of Gram－positive bacteria. The classification, regulation and biological functions of T7SS are reviewed in the present paper.