India, June 4 -- Two Chinese nationals - a woman and her boyfriend - have been charged by the US Department of Justice for allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen, Fusarium graminearum, into the United States for research at a University of Michigan lab.

The Justice Department identified the accused as Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34. They face charges including conspiracy, smuggling goods into the US, providing false statements, and visa fraud.

According to the complaint, Jian received funding from the Chinese government for her research on the pathogen in China. Investigators also found information on her electronic devices indicating her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The complaint ...