Prof Carlien Pohl-Albertyn
Photo: Johan Roux

Patent by Prof Carien Pohl-Albertyn and colleagues registered globally



Prof Carlien Pohl-Albertyn introduction: video

Prof Carlien Pohl-Albertyn, an associate professor in Microbiology, is known for her research in bioactive lipids in pathogenic yeast. She and her team researches the different aspects in yeasts and how they make people ill, especially people with compromised immune systems.

Research led to the registration of a patent, of which she was one of the co-developers, in 30 countries across the globe in 2013. The patent describes the method for the rapid identification of clinical Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii isolates.

Her latest research focuses on the effect of unsaturated C20 fatty acids, including non-methylene interrupted fatty acids on pathogenic fungi. Research by one of her students indicates that fish oil can kill candida.

Her contract research in yeast stretches from work for SA Breweries, to oilseeds, Malaysian palm oils and South African mines. The cryopreservation of yeast inocula for the brewing industry led to the production of a beer that has been awarded the prize as the best bottled lager in the world at the Brewing Industry International Awards held in Burton-upon-Trent in 2000.

She is treasurer of the South African Society for Microbiology and an ordinary member of the American Society for Microbiology.

Somewhere in her busy programme she studied law, and was honoured as award-winning achiever in Roman Law (2006) and in Latin (2010).