Gerri Peev: Washington warns of Brown rot

This was the headline on a press release from the US Embassy in London: International Team Sequences Genome of Brown-Rot Fungus.
Have relations with the US really gone off? We had heard the PM had received the "short red carpet" treatment in DC in contrast to the Messiah's welcome extended to Tony Blair, but this was potentially a real insult.
On closer reading, it is a press release documenting a breakthrough that will make production of fuel from plants more cost effective and energy efficient. Far more important than a diplomatic stand off. Not quite as much fun though.