Carolina Pohl-Albertyn obtained her PhD degree in Microbiology in 1999 in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the University of the Free State. In 2005 she was appointed as Researcher and established her research focus in the field of Bioactive Lipids in Pathogenic Yeasts. In 2008 she was appointed as Senior Lecturer and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2013 and Full Professor in 2015. Her research focusses on the role of fatty acids and the production of immunomodulatory lipid metabolites (e.g. prostaglandins) in pathogenic yeasts. This eventually led to the establishment of the Pathogenic Yeast Research Group which brought together expertise in yeast molecular biology, yeast lipid metabolism and immune response. In 2019 she was awarded an NRF SARChI research chair in Pathogenic Yeasts.

Since 2003 she has supervised 18 PhD and 37 MSc students , who have all completed their degrees successfully, and is currently promotor or co-promotor of a further 18 postgraduate students.  She has co-authored 127 articles in peer reviewed scientific journals, five chapters in books and presented numerous presentations, keynote addresses and posters at national and international conferences. She is Associate Editor of Fungal Genetics and Biology as well as of Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology – Biofilms. In addition, she is a member of various international microbiological societies as well as the South African Society for Microbiology.

Latest publications (2018-2022)

For detailed list, please consult my CV

• Fourie R, Kuloyo OO, Mochochoko BM, Albertyn J, Pohl CH. (2018) Iron at the centre of Candida albicans interactions. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 8: art 185.

• Alayande KA, Pohl CH, Ashafa AOT. (2018) Significance of combination therapy between Euclea crispa (Thunb.) (leaf and stem bark) extracts and standard antibiotics against drug resistant bacteria. South African Journal of Botany 118: 203-208.

• Ogundeji A, Porotloane B, Pohl C, Kendrekar P, Sebolai O. (2018) Copper acyl salicylate has potential as an anti-Cryptococcus anti-fungal agent. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 62: e02345-17.

• Jiru TM, Steyn, L, Pohl C, Abate D. (2018) Production of single cell oil from cane molasses by Rhodotorula kratochvilovae (syn, Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae) SY89 as a biodiesel feedstock. Chemistry Central Journal 12: 91.

• Alayande KA, Pohl CH, Ashafa AOT. (2018) In vitro assessment of Euclea crispa (Thunb.) leaf extracts against Campylobacter spp. and Escherichia coli – common diarrhoeal agents. Asian Journal of Applied Sciences 6: 158-165.

• Du Plooy M, Sebolai OM, Pohl CH, Albertyn J. (2018) Functional characterization of cryptococcal genes: then and now. Frontiers in Microbiology (Fungi and their interactions) 9: art 2263.

• Agunbiade M, Pohl C, Ashafa AOT (2018) Bioflocculant production from Streptomyces platensis and its potential for river and waste water treatment. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology 49: 731-741.

• Fourie R, Pohl CH (2019) Invited review: Beyond antagonism: the interaction between Candida species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Fungi (Fungal-bacterial interactions: Current knowledge and future perspectives) 5: art 34.

• Agunbiade MO, Saheed S, Van Heerden E, Pohl CH (2019) In vivo toxicological evaluation of a purified bioflocculant produced by Arthrobacter humicola. Pharmacognosy Journal 11: 486-492.

• Agunbiade MO, Pohl C, Van Heerden E, Oyekola O, Ashafa A (2019) Evaluation of fresh water actinomycete bioflocculant and its biotechnological applications in wastewaters treatment and removal of heavy metals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16: art 3337.

• Madende M, Albertyn J, Sebolai O, Pohl CH (corresponding author) (2020) Caenorhabditis elegans as a model animal for investigating fungal pathogenesis. Medical Microbiology and Immunology 209: 1-13.

• Maliehe M, Ntoi MA, Lahiri S, Folorunso OS, Ogundeji AO, Pohl CH, Sebolai OM (2020) Environmental factors that contribute to the maintenance of Cryptococcus neoformans pathogenesis. Microorganisms 8: art 180.

• Mokoena NZ, Sebolai OM, Albertyn J, Pohl CH (2020) Synthesis and function of fatty acids and oxylipins, with a focus on Caenorhabditis elegans. Prostaglandins and Other Lipid Mediators 148: art 105429.

• Alayande KA, Pohl CH, Ashafa AOT (2020). Evaluations of biocidal potential of Euclea crispa stem bark extract and ability to compromise the integrity of microbial cell membrane. Journal of Herbal Medicine 21: art 100304.

• Kuloyo O, Fourie R, Cason E, Albertyn J, Pohl CH (corresponding author) (2020). Transcriptome analyses of Candida albicans biofilms, exposed to arachidonic acid and fluconazole indicates potential drug targets. G3 Genes, Genomes, Genetics 10: 3099-3108.

• Ezeokoli OT, Pohl CH (corresponding author) (2020) Opportunistic pathogenic fungal co-infections are prevalent in critically ill COVID-19 patients: are they risk factors for disease severity? South African Medical Journal 110:1081-1085.

• Jamui AT, Albertyn J, Sebolai OM, Pohl CH (2021) Update on Candida krusei, a potential multidrug-resistant pathogen. Medical Mycology 59: 14–30.

• Mhlongo S, Ezeokoli OT, Roopnarain A, Ndabe B, Sekoai PT, Habimana O, Pohl CH (2021). The potential of single-cell oils derived from filamentous fungi as alternative feedstock sources for biodiesel production. Frontiers in Microbiology 12: 637381.

• Fourie R, Cason ED, Albertyn J, Pohl CH (2021) Transcriptional response of Candida albicans to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a polymicrobial biofilm. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics 11: jkab042.

• Ogundeji AO, Mjokane N, Folorunso OS, Pohl CH, Nyaga MM, Sebolai OM (2021) The repurposing of acetylsalicylic acid as a photosensitiser to inactivate the growth of cryptococcal cells. Pharmaceuticals 14:404

• Fourie R, Albertyn J, Sebolai O, Gcilitshana O, Pohl CH (2021) Candida albicans SET3 plays a role in early biofilm formation, interaction with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and virulence in Caenorhabditis elegans. Frontiers Cellular and Infection Microbiology (Section Biofilms) 11:680732

• Brink J, Fourie R, Sebolai O, Albertyn J, Pohl CH (2021) The role of lipid droplets in microbial pathogenesis. Journal of Medical Microbiology 70:001383. Editor’s Choice for July edition

• Ezeokoli O, Gcilitshana O,Pohl CH (2021) Risk factors for fungal co-infections in critically ill COVID-19 patients, with a focus on immunosuppressants. Journal of Fungi 7: 545

• Pohl CH, Nett JE (2021) Editorial: Fungal biofilms in infection and disease. Frontiers Cellular and Infection Microbiology (Section Biofilms) 11:753650

• Mochochoko BM, Ezeokoli OT, Sebolai, O, Albertyn J, Pohl CH (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 59: 869–881

• Madu UL, Ogundeji AO, Folorunso, OS, Albertyn J, Pohl CH, Sebolai OM (2021) The repurposing of the antimalaria drug, primaquine, as a photosensitiser to inactivate cryptococcal cells. Photochem 1: 275–286

• Kankam G, Christians B, Maliehe M, Mjokane N, Ogundeji AO, Folorunso OS, Pohl CH, Sebolai OM (2021) A survey of cryptococcal cells present in bird droppings found across Bloemfontein, South Africa. Veterinary World 14: 2739-2744

• Jamiu AT, Sebolai OM, Albertyn J, Pohl CH(2021) Polyunsaturated fatty acids potentiate the susceptibility of Candida krusei biofilms to fluconazole via disruption of membrane integrity and efflux pump activity. Medical Mycology 59: 1225-1237

• Jamiu AT, Pohl CH, Bello S, Adedoja T, Sabiu S (2021) A review on molecular docking analysis of phytocompounds against SARS-CoV-2 druggable targets. All Life 14:1, 1100-1128

• Sander WJ, Fourie C, Sabiu S, O’Neill FH, Pohl CH, O’Neill HG (2022). Reactive oxygen species as potential antiviral targets. Reviews in Medical Virology 32: e2240

• Hugo A, Van Wyngaard BE, Strydom PE, De Witt FH, Pohl CH, Kanegoni AT (2022) The effect of dietary Echium oil supplementation on the fatty acid profile, omega-3 fatty acid content and subcutaneous fat quality of pork. Livestock Science 257: 104833

• Sander WJ, Kemp G, Hugo A, Pohl CH, O’Neill HG (2022) Rotavirus mediated prostaglandin E₂ production in MA104 cells promote virus attachment and internalisation, resulting in an increased viral load. Frontiers in Physiology 13: 805565.

• Mjokane N, Maliehe M, Folorunso OS, Ogundeji AO, Gcilitshana OMN, Albertyn J, Pohl CH, Sebolai OM (2022) Cryptococcal protease(s) and the activation of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. Cells 11: 437

• Pohl CH(2022) Recent advances and opportunities in the study of Candida albicans polymicrobial biofilms. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (Section Biofilms) 12: 836379

• Pohl CH(2022) Competition for iron during polymicrobial infections may increase antifungal drug susceptibility – how will it impact treatment options? Infection and Immunity 90: e00057-22

• Desselberger U, Pohl CH, O’Neill HG (2022) Editorial: Significance of cellular lipids for viral replication and pathogenesis. Frontiers in Physiology (Section Lipid and Fatty Acid Research) 13:906205