Two Chinese researchers have been charged by the FBI for allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen Fusarium graminearum into the United States.Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, have been accused of illegally bringing the pathogen, a plant fungus which is an agroterrorism agent into the US to research at the University of Michigan, where Jian works.This agent Fusarium graminearum, commonly known as Gibberella zeae, is a highly destructive plant pathogen that causes Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereal crops like wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year.Fusarium graminearum’s toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock.. It not only devastates crop yields but also contaminates grains with harmful mycotoxins, including deoxynivalenol (also known as vomitoxin), which can induce vomiting, suppress immune systems, and cause reproductive issues in both humans and animals.
Possible weaponisation of Fusarium graminearum
According to experts, Fusarium graminearum isn’t just a headache for agriculture, it has potential as a biological weapon. Its ability to wipe out essential crops and render grain supplies unusable makes it a prime candidate for what security agencies call agroterrorism. While it doesn’t attack humans directly, its secondary effects can cripple food chains and cause economic havoc.United States Attorney Gorgon stated: “The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals, including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party are of the gravest national security concerns. These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme.”
