In this didactically–written text, the small team of expert authors presents the field in a comprehensive and accessible manner that is well suited for students and junior researchers. The result is a highly readable and systematically structured introduction to antimicrobial peptides, their structure, biological function and mode of action. The authors point the way towards a rational design of this potentially highly effective new class of clinical antibiotics on the brink of industrial application by discussing their design principles, target membranes and structure–activity relationships. The final part of the book describes recent successes in the application of peptides as anticancer agents.