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The Editor-in-Chief has retracted this article [1]. Figures 1A, 1D and 2B (bottom right) are identical with Figures 1A, 1H and 1B respectively in another article [2] which reports a study in a different species. In addition, Table 1 contains data presented in a third article [3], which also reports a study in a different species. The Editor-in-Chief therefore no longer has confidence in the validity of the data and the conclusions drawn. Tereza C. Cardoso disagrees with this retraction. Helena L. Ferreira agrees with this retraction. Sergio E. L. da Silva, Andrea F. Garcia, Felipe E. S. Silva, Roberto Gameiro, Carolina U. F. Fabri and Dielson S. Vieira have not responded to any correspondence about this retraction.

To establish an association between mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis following infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infection, HD11 avian macrophage cells were infected with the Massachusetts 41 (M41) strain. Our results show that the M41 strain of IBV induced cytopathic effects followed by the release of new viral particles. Elevated numbers of apoptotic cells were observed at 24, 48 and 72 h post-infection (p.i.). Viral infection was associated with mitochondrial membrane depolarization and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production at all of the examined timepoints p.i. In summary, IBV M41 replication in infected HD11 macrophages seems to induce mitochondrial bioenergy failure, acting as a respiratory chain uncoupler, without compromising viral replication.