Two Chinese researchers, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, face charges of conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements, and visa fraud.

They allegedly attempted to bring a hazardous biological pathogen into the United States for research at the University of Michigan. The fungus named Fusarium graminearum, that the pair are accused of trying to smuggle into the U.S., is identified in scientific literature as a potential agroterrorism agent capable of disrupting food supplies.

Liu is accused of concealing the toxic fungus in his backpack while entering through Detroit airport, intending to study it at the university lab where Jian was employed. The two scholars obviously were somehow going to use the pathogen to somehow undermine the U.S. food supply. Fortunately, they were stopped.

PHOTO CREDIT: Fusarium graminearum spores – CIMMYT.