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Viral infections are one of the most intimidating threats to human beings. One convincing example is the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2. Rapid, sensitive, specific and field-deployable identification of causal viruses is critical for disease surveillance, control and treatment. The shortcomings of current methods create an impending need for developing novel biosensing platforms. CRISPR-Cas systems, especially CRISPR-Cas12a and CRISPR-Cas13a, characterized by their sensitivity, specificity, high base resolution and programmability upon nucleic acid recognition, have been repurposed for molecular diagnostics, surging a new path forward in biosensing. They, as the core of some robust diagnostic tools, are revolutionizing the way that virus can be detected. This review focuses on recent advances in virus detection with CRISPR-Cas systems especially CRISPR-Cas12a/Cas13a. We started with a short introduction to CRISPR-Cas systems and the properties of Cas12a and Cas13a effectors, and continued with reviewing the current advances of virus detection utilizing CRISPR-Cas systems. The significance and advantages of such methods were then discussed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives were proposed. We tried to provide readers with a concise profile of emerging and fast-expanding CRISPR-Cas based biosensing technology, and highlighted its potential applications in a range of scenarios with regard to virus detection.

Many anticancer drugs are obtained from natural sources. Nature produces a variety of toxic compounds, which are often used as anticancer drugs. Up to now, there are at least 120 species of poisonous botanicals, animals and minerals, of which more than half have been found to possess significant anticancer properties. In spite of their clinical toxicity, they exhibit pharmacological effects and have been used as important traditional Chinese medicines for the different stages of cancer. The article reviews many structures such as alkaloids of Camptotheca acuminata, Catharanthus roseus and Cephalotaxus fortunei, lignans of Dysosma versipellis and Podophyllum emodi, ketones of Garcinia hanburyi, terpenoids of Mylabris and Ginkgo biloba, diterpenoids of Tripterygium wilfordii, Euphorbia fischeriana, Euphorbia lathyris, Euphorbia kansui, Daphne genkwa, Pseudolarix kaempferi and Brucea javanica, triterpenoids of Melia toosendan, steroids of Periploca sepium, Paris polyphylla and Venenum Bufonis, and arsenic compounds including Arsenicum and Realgar. By comparing their related phytochemistry, toxic effects and the recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of action, this review puts forward some ideals and examples about how to increase antitumour activity and/or reduce the side effects experienced with Chinese medicine.

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