This expression of concern related to the above-mentioned publication highlights the authorship dispute brought to our attention by third parties, which they further transformed into a data authorization claim against the first author (Corresponding Author). It was informed that third parties (Author’s Institution) formed a committee for evaluation, as per their inquiry the manuscript was submitted by the corresponding author without information to the other co-authors. Moreover, the committee has recommended the official retraction of the article due to an authorship claim by a co-supervisor who was not given due credit for his contribution to the work published. The authorship and data authorization issues were raised to the corresponding author and the institution involved for clarifications and investigations. The concern and this note will remain appended to the above-mentioned article, unless the Journal Ethical Committee, Author(s), and Third Party reach a suitable solution to the dispute and proof of misconduct.

Background: Increasing antimicrobial resistance of microbes is one of the leading challenges faced by the medical community and human health. This study focused on a local scorpion species (Buthus sindicus) of Pakistan known for its potent antibiotic properties against Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methodology: Venom extracted from Buthus sindicus tested against Carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa in both crude and partially purified forms. The antibacterial Screening was performed by the Agar-disc diffusion method, using different concentrations of venom while using commercially available antibiotics as positive controls. Results: Among both two species P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii, were tested, there is no zone of inhibition found in any form of Buthus sindicus in the Disc Diffusion Method. Scorpion venom was processed with deionized water, PBS, and Tris-HCl and observed no difference in antibacterial activity. Conclusion: Our study concluded that no antimicrobial activity was found against any selected drug-resistant pathogens in the venom of Buthus sindicus, probably because of the lack of disulphide bonds.