After completing my Ph.D. in 1996 I completed a Post-doctoral study at Rice University, Houston, USA to investigate the effect of pressure sensing mechanisms in micro-organisms. This project was a NASA funded project related to the study of bone mass decrease experienced by astronauts especially with long term exposure to zero gravity under the supervision of Prof. M. Gustin. After my return to South Africa I was appointed as lecturer in 1999 at the UFS and currently my research focus on the use of yeast as host for heterologous expression, which also includes the taxonomic and biotechnological potential of yeasts. The latter formed part of a NRF SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute) funded project regarding yeast biodiversity [NRF SANBI grant].  This project had a specific focus on identifying yeasts, including possible pathogens, from the environment. This lead to the establishment of a research grouping formally established in 2014 called The Pathogenic Yeast Research Group consisting of three PI’s (Prof. CH Pohl, Dr. O. Sebolai and myself). This brought together three principle investigators with knowledge regarding various virulence factors (including immunomodulatory metabolites) produced by the Candida and Cryptococcus as well as molecular biology of yeasts. The research conducted in this research group culminated in the awarding of a NRF SARChI research chair in pathogenic to Prof. CH Pohl-Albertyn in 2019.

PATENTS

• Sebolai, O.M., Ogundeji, A.O., Albertyn, J., Pohl, C.H. & Kock, J.L.F. (2013). Method for the identification of clinical Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii isolates. PA158794P. South Africa (CIPC).
• Albertyn J, Labuschagne M. Theron C. & Smit MS. (2011). Novel expression constructs. Patent number 2011/04652. Filed 23 June 2011.
• Smit MS, Labuschagne M, Albertyn J, van Rooyen, N & Maseme, J. (2011). Expression Construct for the Co-expression of Vanillyl Alcohol Oxidase Encoding Genes. Patent number 2010/06445 Filed 2 September 2011.

CHAPTERS IN BOOKS

• Albertyn J, Pohl CH and Viljoen BC. (2014). Rhodotorula. Encyclopaedia of Food Microbiology, 2nd Ed. In Print.
• F. Thevenieau, A. Beopoulos, T. Desfougeres,  J. Sabirova, K (J). Albertyn, S. Zinjarde and J-M. Nicaud (2010). Uptake and assimilation of hydrophobic substrates by the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia Lipolytica (Volume 2, Part 6, Chapter 38, p. 1513-1527). In: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Ed. K.N. Timmis, Section Eds. T. McGenity, J.R. Van der Meer, V. de Lorenzo. ISBN: 978-3-540-77588-1.
• Nel, S. Labuschagne M. and Albertyn J. (2009). Yeasts as eukaryotic expression systems. In: Diversity and Potential Biotechnological Applications of Yeasts. Eds: T. Satyanarayana and G. Kunze. ISBN: 978-1-4020-8291-7. Springe Science and Business Media, the Netherlands.

PUBLICATIONS

• JTR Brink, R Fourie, O Sebolai, J Albertyn, CH Pohl (2021). The role of lipid droplets in microbial pathogenesis. Journal of Medical Microbiology 70 (6), 001383
• AT Jamiu, J Albertyn, O Sebolai, C Pohl-Albertyn (2021). Arachidonic acid is a potential inhibitor of Abc1 transporter of Candida krusei. MDPI
• BM Mochochoko, OT Ezeokoli, O Sebolai, J Albertyn, CH Pohl (2021).Role of the high-affinity reductive iron acquisition pathway of Candida albicans in prostaglandin E2 production, virulence, and interaction with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Medical Mycology
• R Fourie, ED Cason, J Albertyn, CH Pohl (2021). Transcriptional response of Candida albicans to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a polymicrobial biofilm. G3 11 (4),
• R Fourie, J Albertyn, O Sebolai, O Gcilitshana, CH Pohl (2021). Candida albicans SET3 plays a role in early biofilm formation, interaction with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and virulence in Caenorhabditis elegans.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology 11
• AT Jamiu, J Albertyn, OM Sebolai, CH Pohl (2021). Update on Candida krusei, a potential multidrug-resistant pathogen. Medical mycology 59 (1), 14-30
• Kuloyo, O., Fourie, R., Cason, E., Albertyn, J & Pohl, C.H. 2020. Transcriptome analyses of Candida albicans biofilms, exposed to arachidonic acid and fluconazole, indicates potential drug targets. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics 10: 309-3108. DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401340, Impact factor 2.630, Research Field 1.06
• Madende, M., Albertyn, J., Sebolai, O. & Pohl, C.H. 2020. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model animal for investigating fungal pathogenesis. Medical Microbiology and Immunology 209: 1–13. DOI: 10.1007/s00430-019-00635-4. Impact factor 1.961, Research Field 1.06
• Mokoena, N.Z., Sebolai, O.M., Albertyn, J. & Pohl, C.H. 2020. Synthesis and function of fatty acids and oxylipins, with a focus on Caenorhabditis elegans. Prostaglandins and Other Lipid Mediators 148: 106426. DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2020.106426. Impact factor 2.283, Research Field 1.06
• Madende, M., Albertyn, J., Sebolai, O.M. & Pohl, C.H. 2019. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model animal for investigating fungal pathogenesis. Medical Microbiology and Immunology. Impact factor 3.202, Hybrid code 31, CESM code 13, doi: 10.1007/s00430-019-00635-4.
• Theron, C.W., Labuschagne, M., Albertyn, J. & Smit, M.S.2019. Heterologous coexpression of thebenzoate-para-hydroxylase CYP53B1 with differentcytochrome P450 reductases in various yeasts. Microbial Biotechnology 12: 1126–1138. Impact factor 3.670, Hybrid code 21, CESM Code 13, doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.13321
• du Plooy, L. M., Sebolai, O. M., Pohl, C. H., & Albertyn, J. (2018). Functional Characterization of Cryptococcal Genes: Then and Now. Frontiers in Microbiology, 9(September), 1–9.
• Fourie, R., Kuloyo, O. O., Mochochoko, B. M., Albertyn, J., & Pohl, C. H. (2018). Iron at the Centre of Candida albicans Interactions. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 8(June), 1–14.
• Motaung, T. E., Ells, R., Pohl, C. H., Albertyn, J. & Tsilo, T. J. (2017). Genome-wide functional analysis in Candida albicans. Virulence 8(8), 1563–1579.
• Madu UL, Ogundeji AO, Pohl CH, Albertyn J and Sebolai OM (2017) Elucidation of the role of 3-hydroxy fatty acids in Cryptococcus-amoeba interactions. Front. Microbiol. 8:765. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2017.00765
• R Fourie, R Ells, G. Kemp, OM Sebolai, J Albertyn, CH Pohl (2017) Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces aspirin insensitive eicosanoids and contributes to the eicosanoid profile of polymicrobial biofilms with Candida albicans. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids 117: 36–46.
• Osopale, B.A., Witthuhn, C.R., Albertyn, J. and Oguntoyinbo, F.A. (2016). Culture dependent and independent genomic identification of Alicyclobacillus species in contaminated commercial fruit juices. Food Microbiology, 56, pp. 21-28.
• AO Ogundeji, J Albertyn, CH Pohl, OM Sebolai (2015). Method for identification of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii useful in resource-limited settings. Journal of clinical pathology, jclinpath-2014-202790.
• Borgonie, G., Linage-Alvarez, B., Ojo, A.O., Mundle, S.O.C., Freese, L.B., Van Rooyen, C., Kuloyo, O., Albertyn, J., Pohl, C., Cason, E.D., Vermeulen, J., Pienaar, C., Litthauer, D., Van Niekerk, H., Van Eeden, J., Lollar, B.S., Onstott, T.C. and Van Heerden, E., (2015). Eukaryotic opportunists dominate the deep-subsurface biosphere in South Africa. Nature Communications, 6.
• TE Motaung, J Albertyn, CH Pohl (2015). Candida albicans mutant construction and characterization of selected virulence determinants. Journal of Microbiological methods. 115, 153-165
• Madu, U.L., Ogundeji, A.O., Mochochoko, B.M., Pohl, C.H., Albertyn, J., Swart, C.W., Allwood, J.W., Southam, A.D., Dunn, W.B., May, R.C. and Sebolai, O.M. (2015). Cryptococcal 3-hydroxy fatty acids protect cells against amoebal phagocytosis. Frontiers in Microbiology, 6(DEC).
• Ells R, Kilian W, Hugo A, Albertyn J, Kock JLF & Pohl CH. (2014) Virulence of South African Candida albicans strains isolated from different clinical samples. Medical Mycology 52: 246-253.
• Theron CW, Labuschagné M, Gudiminchi R, Albertyn J, Smit MS. (2014). A broad-range yeast expression system reveals Arxula adeninivorans expressing a fungal self-sufficient cytochrome P450 monooxygenase as an excellent whole-cell biocatalyst. FEMS Yeast Res. 2014 Feb 13. doi: 10.1111/1567-1364.12142. [Epub ahead of print].
• Ells R, Kemp G, Albertyn J, Kock JLF, and Pohl CH. (2013). Phenothiazine is a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin E2 production by Candida albicans biofilms. FEMS Yeast Research. 13: 849-855.
• Charimba G, Jooste P, Albertyn J and Hugo C. (2013). Chryseobacterium carnipullorum sp. nov., isolated from raw chicken. Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.049445-0.
• Motaung T, Albertyn J, Kock JLF, Lee C-F, Suh S-O, Blackwell M, Pohl CH. (2013). Trichosporon vanderwaltii sp. nov., an asexual basidiomycetous yeast isolated from soil and beetles. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 103:313–319..
• Ells, R, Kock JLF, Albertyn J, Pohl CH. (2012). Arachidonic acid metabolites in pathogenic yeasts. Lipids in Health and Disease, 11:100
• Gudiminchi RK, Randall C, Opperman DJ, Olaofe OA, Harrison ST, Albertyn J, Smit MS. (2012). Whole-cell bio-oxidation of n-octane by E. coli strains expressing the CYP153A6 operon. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 96:1507-1516.
• Bulani, S.I., Moleleki, L., Albertyn, J. and Moleleki. N. (2012). Development of a novel rDNA based plasmid for enhanced cell surface display on Yarrowia lipolytica. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. Express 2012, 2:27
• Thibane VS, Ells R, Hugo A, Albertyn J, van Rensburg WJ, Van Wyk PW, Kock JL, Pohl CH. (2012). Polyunsaturated fatty acids cause apoptosis in C. albicans and C. dubliniensis biofilms. Biochimica et biophysica acta. 1820:1463–1468.

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