Principal Investigators

Prof Carlien Pohl-Albertyn

Prof Carlien Pohl

PohlCH@ufs.ac.za
+27 51 401 9197
NRF SARChI Chair holder

Prof Koos Albertyn

AlbertynJ@ufs.ac.za
+27 51 401 2223

Prof Olihile Sebolai

SebolaiOM@ufs.ac.za
+27 51 401 2004

Onele

Dr Onele Gcilitshana

GcilitshanaOMN@ufs.ac.za
+27 51 401 3051

Yeasts belonging to the genera Candida and Cryptococcus are important pathogens in immunocompromised persons, causing from mild disease to lethal infections. The importance of understanding these pathogens and finding ways of combating these infections is highlighted by the fact that Prof Carlien Pohl is the current holder of the NRF SARChI research chair in pathogenic yeasts.

The Pathogenic Yeast Research Group focuses on molecular mechanisms of virulence and the role of bioactive lipids in the pathogenic yeasts, Cryptococcus neoformans and several Candida species. In order to study the molecular mechanisms behind the virulence of these yeasts, we are constructing several CRISPR-Cas9 gene deletion systems to efficiently delete and modify genes in order to study their effects. An important aim is to develop microbial growth control strategies by identifying novel drug targets and drugs. This includes the re-purposing of drugs that are typically used to treat non-infectious conditions as anti-Cryptococcus drugs in vitro and using Acanthamoeba castellanii and macrophages as models of phagocytic cells.

Polymicrobial biofilm of Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The Research Group is also interested in the virulence of polymicrobial infections consisting of Candida albicans and the bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in vitro and in Caenorhabditis elegans (nematode) as an invertebrate infection model, to study this interaction.

Research Topics

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Candida albicans yeast and hyphae showing mitochondria in red fluorescence

Candida albicans yeast cells showing vacuoles in green fluorescence
Candida albicans yeast cells showing vacuoles in green fluorescence

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Candida albicans yeast and hyphae showing lipid droplets in blue fluorescence

Recent Featured Publications

Madende M, Albertyn J, Sebolai O, Pohl CH (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.

Jamui AT, Albertyn J, Sebolai OM, Pohl CH. Update on Candida krusei, a potential multidrug-resistant pathogen. Accepted for publication in Medical Mycology.

Fourie R and Pohl CH (2019) Beyond antagonism: the interaction between Candida species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Fungi 5: art 34.

Madende M, Albertyn J, Sebolai O and Pohl CH (2019) Caenorhabditis elegans as a model animal for investigating fungal pathogenesis. Medical Microbiology and Immunology.

Madu UL and Sebolai OM (2019) Complementary use of microscopic techniques and fluorescence reading in studying Cryptococcus-amoeba interactions. Journal of Visualized Experiments 148: e58698.

Recent News and Highlights

Prof Albertyn and two PhD students (Eduvan Bisschoff and Ruan Fourie) attended the 35^th International Specialised Symposium on Yeasts in Antalya, Turkey, where they presented three talks and a poster on their recent work on the development of CRISPR-Cas9 in pathogenic and non-pathogenic yeasts as well as the effect of antifungal fatty acids on yeast drug efflux pumps.

Prof Albertyn, in his capacity as Yeast Commissioner, also attended the annual Yeast Commissioner meeting. During this meeting South Africa received the bid the host the 15th International Congress on Yeasts which will be held in Cape Town in 2024.

Prof Albertyn and two PhD students (Eduvan Bisschoff and Ruan Fourie) attended the 35th International Specialised Symposium on Yeasts in Antalya, Turkey

Postdoctoral fellows and Postgraduate Students

FACULTY CONTACT

Elfrieda van den Berg
Marketing Manager
T: +27 51 401 2531
E:vdberge@ufs.ac.za

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