Type Ⅲ interferon includes IFN⁃λ1,IFN⁃λ2,IFN⁃λ3 and the newly discovered IFN⁃λ4. It activates a common signal pathway with type I interferon and has similar biological activity. It has anti⁃virus,anti⁃ tumor,anti⁃cell proliferation and immune regulation effects,and plays an important role in anti⁃HIV infection. At first,it was found that the gene polymorphism of interleukin⁃28B is related to the treatment response and spontane⁃ ous clearance of HCV infected patients. This correlation analysis was used to predict the therapeutic effect of inter⁃ feron for HCV infection and guiding clinical medication,which makes the polymorphism site of IL⁃28 gene become a hot spot. The antiviral commonness of interferon has also attracted scholars′ attention on the correlation between IL⁃28 gene polymorphism and HIV infection. Recently,many studies have found that genetic variation of IFNL3/4 locus is also associated with disease susceptibility,antiviral immune response and disease progression of AIDS,but the cause of IFNL mutation and its biological mechanism against viral infection remain unclear. This review summa⁃ rizes the biological activity,antiviral mechanism,anti ⁃ HIV infection and the correlation of gene polymorphism sites of type Ⅲ interferon.