Virologist who was first to share Covid genome sleeps on street after lab shuts

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01293-0

The first person to publicly release the genome sequence of the virus that causes COVID-19 — virologist Zhang Yongzhen — seems to have resolved a public dispute with the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center (SPHCC), Fudan University, China, which erupted last week.

Access options

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals

Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription

$32.99 / 30 days

cancel any time

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01293-0

Updates & Corrections

  • Update 03 May 2024: The text was altered to reflect the fact that Zhang's social media posts have been removed

  • Correction 03 May 2024: Zhang's social media post regarding the agreement with SPHCC was posted after midnight on Tuesday night. The text has been corrected for accuracy.

Subjects

Latest on:

Nature Careers

Jobs

{
"by": "Brajeshwar",
"descendants": 29,
"id": 40223769,
"kids": [
40224423,
40224087,
40224386,
40223991,
40224507,
40224374,
40224583
],
"score": 58,
"time": 1714573825,
"title": "Virologist who was first to share Covid genome sleeps on street after lab shuts",
"type": "story",
"url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01293-0"
}
{
"author": "Smriti Mallapaty",
"date": "2024-05-01T00:00:00.000Z",
"description": "Zhang Yongzhen shared the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 with the world, speeding up the development of vaccines.",
"image": "https://media.nature.com/lw1200/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01293-0/d41586-024-01293-0_27038894.jpg",
"logo": null,
"publisher": "Nature",
"title": "Chinese virologist who was first to share COVID-19 genome sleeps on street after lab shuts",
"url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01293-0"
}
{
"url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01293-0",
"title": "Chinese virologist who was first to share COVID-19 genome sleeps on street after lab shuts",
"description": "Zhang Yongzhen shared the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 with the world, speeding up the development of vaccines. Zhang Yongzhen shared the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 with the world, speeding up the development of vaccines.",
"links": [
"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01293-0"
],
"image": "https://media.nature.com/lw1200/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01293-0/d41586-024-01293-0_27038894.jpg",
"content": "<div>\n <div>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://wayf.springernature.com/?redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01293-0\">\n <span>Access through your institution</span>\n </a>\n </p>\n <div>\n <p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01293-0#access-options\">\n <span>Buy or subscribe</span>\n </a>\n </p></div>\n </div>\n <p>The first person to publicly release the genome sequence of the virus that causes COVID-19 — virologist Zhang Yongzhen — seems to have resolved a public dispute with the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center (SPHCC), Fudan University, China, which erupted last week.</p>\n <div>\n <h2 id=\"access-options\">Access options</h2>\n <div>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://wayf.springernature.com/?redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01293-0\">\n <span>Access through your institution</span>\n </a>\n </p>\n </div>\n <section><div>\n <p>\n Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals\n </p>\n <p>\n Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription\n </p>\n <div>\n <p>\n <span>$32.99<span> / 30 days</span></span>\n </p>\n <p>cancel any time</p>\n </div>\n <div>\n <p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://shop-amers.nature.com/products/plus/?region=US\"><span>Learn more</span></a>\n </p></div>\n </div><div>\n <p>Subscribe to this journal</p>\n <p>\n Receive 51 print issues and online access\n </p>\n <div>\n <p>$199.00 per year</p>\n <p>only $3.90 per issue</p>\n </div>\n <div>\n <p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/nature/subscribe\"><span>Learn more</span></a>\n </p></div>\n </div><div>\n <p>Rent or buy this article</p>\n <p>Prices vary by article type</p>\n <p><span>from</span>$1.95</p>\n <p><span>to</span>$39.95</p>\n <div>\n <p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01293-0.epdf?no_publisher_access=1&amp;r3_referer=nature\"><span>Learn more</span></a>\n </p></div>\n </div><p>Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout</p></section>\n <h3>Additional access options:</h3>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://idp.nature.com/authorize/natureuser?client_id=grover&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01293-0\">Log in</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.springernature.com/gp/librarians/licensing/license-options\">Learn about institutional subscriptions</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://support.nature.com/en/support/home\">Read our FAQs</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.springernature.com/gp/contact\">Contact customer support</a>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </div>\n <p><em>doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01293-0</em></p>\n <div>\n <h3>Updates &amp; Corrections</h3>\n <ul><li>\n <p><strong>Update 03 May 2024</strong>: The text was altered to reflect the fact that Zhang's social media posts have been removed</p>\n </li><li>\n <p><strong>Correction 03 May 2024</strong>: Zhang's social media post regarding the agreement with SPHCC was posted after midnight on Tuesday night. The text has been corrected for accuracy.</p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </div>\n <div>\n <p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://s100.copyright.com/AppDispatchServlet?title=Chinese%20virologist%20who%20was%20first%20to%20share%20COVID-19%20genome%20sleeps%20on%20street%20after%20lab%20shuts&amp;author=Smriti%20Mallapaty&amp;contentID=10.1038%2Fd41586-024-01293-0&amp;copyright=Springer%20Nature%20Limited&amp;publication=0028-0836&amp;publicationDate=2024-05-01&amp;publisherName=SpringerNature&amp;orderBeanReset=true\">Reprints and permissions</a></p>\n </div>\n <h2 id=\"related-articles\">Related Articles</h2>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03435-6\">\n <img src=\"https://media.nature.com/lw100/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01293-0/d41586-024-01293-0_18676088.jpg\" />\n Nature’s 10: ten people who helped shape science in 2020\n </a>\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00827-2\">\n <img src=\"https://media.nature.com/lw100/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01293-0/d41586-024-01293-0_24655478.jpg\" />\n COVID-origins study links raccoon dogs to Wuhan market: what scientists think\n </a>\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00732-0\">\n <img src=\"https://media.nature.com/lw100/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01293-0/d41586-024-01293-0_24598128.jpg\" />\n Scientists struggle to probe COVID’s origins amid sparse data from China\n </a>\n </p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n <h2 id=\"subjects\">Subjects</h2>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/subjects/politics\">Politics</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/subjects/virology\">Virology</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/subjects/sars-cov-2\">SARS-CoV-2</a>\n </li>\n </ul>\n <section>\n <h2 id=\"tablist-heading\">Latest on:</h2>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01293-0#latest-content-0-container\">Politics</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01293-0#latest-content-1-container\">Virology</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01293-0#latest-content-2-container\">SARS-CoV-2</a>\n </li>\n </ul>\n <section>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03181-7\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-025-03181-7/d41586-025-03181-7_51529824.jpg\" />\n <p>Volunteer scientists work ‘nights and weekends’ to guide vaccine advice in US</p>\n <p><span>News Explainer</span> <span>06 OCT 25</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03179-1\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-025-03179-1/d41586-025-03179-1_51502940.jpg\" />\n <p>Exclusive: ex-CDC director talks about why she was fired</p>\n <p><span>News Q&amp;A</span> <span>02 OCT 25</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03192-4\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-025-03192-4/d41586-025-03192-4_51514466.jpg\" />\n <p>This US government shutdown is different: what it means for science</p>\n <p><span>News</span> <span>01 OCT 25</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </section>\n <section>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03230-1\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-025-03230-1/d41586-025-03230-1_51115898.jpg\" />\n <p>Biothreat hunters catch dangerous DNA before it gets made</p>\n <p><span>Technology Feature</span> <span>02 OCT 25</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03125-1\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-025-03125-1/d41586-025-03125-1_51509330.jpg\" />\n <p>Bacteria use a decoy defence molecule to set a trap for viruses</p>\n <p><span>News &amp; Views</span> <span>01 OCT 25</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03151-z\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-025-03151-z/d41586-025-03151-z_51473926.jpg\" />\n <p>Public trust in science has declined since COVID — virologists need to unite around safety standards</p>\n <p><span>Comment</span> <span>29 SEP 25</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </section>\n <section>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03151-z\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-025-03151-z/d41586-025-03151-z_51473926.jpg\" />\n <p>Public trust in science has declined since COVID — virologists need to unite around safety standards</p>\n <p><span>Comment</span> <span>29 SEP 25</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03054-z\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-025-03054-z/d41586-025-03054-z_51459276.jpg\" />\n <p>Hotly anticipated US vaccine meeting ends with confusion — and a few decisions</p>\n <p><span>News</span> <span>20 SEP 25</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02612-9\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-025-02612-9/d41586-025-02612-9_51348916.jpg\" />\n <p>Cancelling mRNA studies is the highest irresponsibility</p>\n <p><span>Editorial</span> <span>15 AUG 25</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </section>\n</section>\n <div>\n <div>\n <h2>\n <img src=\"https://www.nature.com/static/images/logos/nature-careers-logo-f6ff1c1c64.svg\" alt=\"Nature Careers\" />\n </h2>\n </div>\n <h3>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/\">Jobs\n </a>\n </h3>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <div>\n <h4><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12846582/open-rank-faculty-positions-assistant-associate-full-professor-in-antimicrobial-resistance/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Open Rank Faculty Positions (Assistant, Associate, Full Professor) in Antimicrobial Resistance</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>Cleveland, Ohio (US)</p>\n <p>Cleveland Clinic</p>\n </div>\n </div>\n <p><img src=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/getasset/c8ce0ac8-2dfb-4729-b71d-d43642fe2eb1/\" />\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <div>\n <h4><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12846581/faculty-position/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">FACULTY POSITION</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>Cleveland, Ohio (US)</p>\n <p>Cleveland Clinic</p>\n </div>\n </div>\n <p><img src=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/getasset/c8ce0ac8-2dfb-4729-b71d-d43642fe2eb1/\" />\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <div>\n <h4><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12846580/postdoc-positions-in-diabetes-research-biology-and-drug-discovery-medicinal-chemistry-/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Postdoc Positions in Diabetes Research (Biology) and Drug Discovery (Medicinal Chemistry)</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>Birmingham, Alabama (US)</p>\n <p>University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)</p>\n </div>\n </div>\n <p><img src=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/getasset/d21a8487-fe15-4ea5-9dcd-6dc0cf9f74a4/\" />\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <div>\n <h4><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12840795/global-recruitment-for-faculty-postdocs-and-specialists-at-hangzhou-institute-of-medicine-cas-/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Global Recruitment for Faculty, Postdocs, and Specialists at Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, CAS</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>Seeking exceptional Senior/Junior PIs, Postdocs, and Core Specialists globally year-round</p>\n <p>Hangzhou, China</p>\n <p>Hangzhou Institute of Medicine Chinese Academy of Sciences (HIMCAS)</p>\n </div>\n </div>\n <p><img src=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/getasset/1c3bae40-91a7-4f46-8e23-c2fa83848be4/\" />\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <div>\n <h4><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12846567/research-positions-research-associate-postdoctoral-fellow-or-research-scientist/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Research Positions: Research Associate, Postdoctoral Fellow, or Research Scientist</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>The Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas, invites applications for a research position ...</p>\n <p>Galveston, Texas</p>\n <p>University of Texas Medical branch (UTMB)</p>\n </div>\n </div>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </div>\n </div>",
"author": "Mallapaty, Smriti",
"favicon": "https://www.nature.com/static/images/favicons/nature/favicon.ico",
"source": "nature.com",
"published": "2024-05-01",
"ttr": 100,
"type": "article"
}