Background: Cytosolic branched chain aminotransferase (BCATc) initiates Leu catabolism. In T cells, Leu activates mTORC1, the role of BCATc is unknown. Results: BCATc stimulates Leu transamination, whereas loss of BCATc expression increases Leu concentrations, mTORC1 signaling, and glycolysis in T cells. Conclusion: BCATc is a novel immunosuppressive enzyme controlling Leu supply for mTORC1 in T cells. Significance: A new link is revealed between amino acid metabolism and the immune response.

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A test drilling program was conducted at a local dairy in the Spokane Valley, Washington, to determine the effects of feedlot operation on groundwater quality. Coliform bacteria, enterococci, and fecal coliforms were found to die off within a relatively few feet of the ground surface. Chlorides and nitrates, however, proved to be persistent in depth and may actually reach the gro.undwater body. The low natural moisture content of the soil, coupled with the apparent high moisture tensions, suggests that soil moisture is not presently moving downward in the system. It is.concluded that the downward migration of inorganic chemicals from the feedior'environment must represent an early phase of the operation, which is arrested as organic mattes are formed in near-surface layers.

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FAVERO, MARTIN S. (Communicable Disease Center, Phoenix, Ariz.), AND CHARLES H. DRAKE. Factors influencing the occurrence of high numbers of iodineresistant bacteria in iodinated swimming pools. Appl. Microbiol. 14:627-635. 1966.-It has been shown that, although iodinated swimming-pool waters are usually free from coliform bacteria and enterococci, the total counts frequently become relatively high. Pseudomonas alcaligenes and Alcaligenes faecalis have been shown to account for most of these high counts. It was of interest, therefore, to compare the microbial flora of four alternately chlorinated and iodinated swimming pools. By means of the membrane filter method and suitable selective media, examinations were made for total viable counts, coliform bacteria, enterococci, staphylococci, Streptococcus salivarius, and P. aeruginosa. Colonies also were picked from membrane filters incubated on standard plate count agar and identified. The results showed that, although viable counts were significantly higher during the iodinated periods, the specific types of bacteria determined were either fewer than or the same as in chlorinated periods. During chlorination, the predominant microbial flora consisted of staphylococci and members of the genus Bacillus. During iodination, however, the P. alcaligenes-A. faecalis group accounted for 92 to 99% of the microbial flora. The accumulation of high numbers of these bacteria was shown to be due to their iodine resistance and their ability to grow rapidly in pool water in the absence of free iodine.

of sulfadiazine daily for two days apparently caused very few toxic symptoms among the 7,000 treated men in the N Division.There was no interference with the scheduled basic training program during the period of treatment. Indeed, the questioning of a large number of men by regimental medical officers and the staff of the Fourth Service Command Laboratory failed to reveal the occurrence of any definite toxic effects. It will be remembered that efforts were made to eliminate the factor of suggestion during the treatment of this group.Blood sulfadiazine levels, obtained at random from 20 men two hours after the third dose of sulfadiazine and eight hours after the last dose, ranged from 2.7 to 5.4 per hundred cubic centimeters by the method of Bratton and Marshall.3 COMMENT These data indicate that the prophylactic administration of sulfadiazine by mouth, even in relatively small doses, is a safe and effective method for curbing epidemics of meningococcic meningitis among large numbers of troops. This method of prophylaxis might also prove to be of value in terminating outbreaks of this disease in other situations, for example on troop transports at sea or in schools, orphanages and other institutions.In these studies the drug was given at one and the same time to all members of the groups to be treated.It should be emphasized that these were closed groups in which there was little opportunity for the usual fortuitous reinfection from outside sources to occur.It seems probable that the effectiveness of the prophylaxis described herein depended on (1) treating all individuals in the group simultaneously, (2) treating all personnel who joined the group subsequent to the institution of prophylaxis before they were incorporated into the group and (3) keeping the treated group closed to reinfection from outside sources. SUMMARY 1. Sulfadiazine was administered prophylactically to more than 15,000 soldiers in residence at two posts where meningococcic meningitis was particularly prevalent during the spring of 1943. In one instance 3 Gm. of drug was given by mouth daily for three days; in the other the dose was 2 Gm. daily for two days.2. Following the institution of prophylactic therapy the incidence of cerebrospinal fever among the treated individuals fell abruptly. Only 2 cases of the disease occurred during a subsequent period of eight weeks of observation. At the same time 40 cases were found among 18,800 untreated controls.3. Meningococcus carrier surveys showed that the administration of sulfadiazine by mouth effectively lowered the carrier rate in the treated group at a time when the incidence of carriers among the untreated controls remained high or actually increased.4. No serious toxic reactions resulted from the large scale administration of the drug. The treated men continued their usual daily activities without interruption of the scheduled basic training program during the period of treatment. cases the selection of a chemotherapeutic drug for treatment is as dependent on the nature of the infecting organism...