ChpK and MazF of the toxin–antitoxin modules are involved in the virulence of Leptospira interrogans during infection
Authors: Xiao-Yang Xin
Dexter Sun
Komi Koukoura Komi
Jie Yan
Wei-Lin Hu
David M Ojcius
Xu&#x27;ai Lin
Xin Zhao
Yu-Mei Ge
Journal: Microbes and infection (2015)
Discipline: IMMUNOLOGY
Keywords: Leptospira interrogans; Toxin–antitoxin module; Virulence.
Affiliations: Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China. Electronic address: ., Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China; State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China. Electronic address: ., Health Sciences Research Institute and Molecular Cell Biology Department, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA. Electronic address: ., New York Presbyterian Hospital & Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the corresponding author and the editorial office of Microbes and Infection. An independent reviewer of the retraction request was also appointed given that one of the authors is the Editor-in- Chief. For figure 1C, Lanes 1 and 2 appear to share some unexpected similarities, except for the bottom band, which also appear to be the band of interest. Sections of Figure 2C appear similar to sections of Figure 5D of a paper that had already appeared in Molecular Microbiology, volume 83, issue 5 (2012) 1006-1023. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2012.07985.x. In figure 3A, Flow cytograms share identical/similar patterns highlighted in various colours. Peculiarly, some of these patterns can be seen as horizontal rotations of others along the axis that separates different quadrants. (ie red green &amp; purple). Moreover, some quadrants appear to have very high densities of events that are suprisingly limited by quadrant gates (most noticeably quadrants B2 from the second column of panels. Figure 5A-B it was found that there were duplicated bands were produced. Figures 5C and 5D, it was found that bands across each individual gel appear identical. One of the conditions of submission of a paper for publication is that authors declare explicitly that the paper has not been previously published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Re-use of any data should be appropriately cited. As such this article represents a misuse of the scientific publishing system. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and apologies are offered to readers of the journal that this was not detected during the submission process”. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 I have found several manipulations in this study that I will detail across several comments. Figure 2 : ![file] Some identical noise patterns can be seen in the background (highlighted in blue) While the bands highlighted in green are not identical, they share common features in contours and noise patterns. , 
 Figure 3A : ![file] Flow cytograms share identical similar patterns highlighted in various colours. Peculiarly, some of these patterns can be seen as horizontal rotations of others along the axis that separates different quadrants. (ie red green purple). Moreover, some quadrants appear to have very high densities of events that are suprisingly limited by quadrant gates (most noticeably quadrants B2 from the second column of panels. , 
 Figure 5A-B : ![file] Duplicated bands. , 
 Figure 5C-D ![file] Bands across each individual gel appear identical , 
 Unfortunately, no author wants to respond! , 
 #5 The EIC of the Journal is also an author. ![file] , 
 Some additional findings in Figure 3A (I made all boxes a bit thicker): ![file] , 
 Some observations of similar-looking areas in Figure 4E. ![file] , 
 Some additional findings in Figure 5A B: ![file] , 
 An additional finding for Figure 1C. Lanes 1 and 2 appear to share some unexpected similarities, except for the bottom band, which also appear to be the band of interest. ![file] I hope the Editor in Chief holds his own papers to the same high standards as he would with papers by others. , 
 An an additional finding for Figure 2A: ![file] , 
 #11 Dear All, We thank the readers for identifying problems with the data. We are very sorry that the manuscript had these issues. I am contacting the other co-authors and we will also inform the journal. Jie Yan , 
 An additional finding, this time concerning Figure 2C of this paper. This TEM photo shares some unexpected similarities with Figure 5D of Lei Zhang et al., Molecular Microbiology (2012), DOI: 10.1111 j.1365-2958.2012.07985.x Pink, light blue, and purple boxes show areas that look similar between these two photos. The position of the Leptospira bacteria, however, is different. Could the authors please explain what happened here? ![file] , 
 I found another duplication. ![file] From [Shijun Li] ![file] ,