Meet our team
Leen Delang - Principal Investigator
I received my PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Leuven in 2011, studying novel antiviral targets for the hepatitis C virus and strategies to prevent antiviral drug resistance in the group of Prof. Johan Neyts. After my PhD, I decided to change gears by developing antiviral strategies against neglected mosquito-borne viruses. As a postdoctoral fellow in the team of Prof. Neyts, I characterized the mechanism of action of novel antiviral drugs against the chikungunya virus.In 2016, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Prof. Anna-Bella Failloux at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, during which I learnt how to rear and infect mosquitoes. In 2019, I received a Junior BOFZAP mandate of KU Leuven to start my own lab as an independent PI.
Dr. Katrien Trappeniers
Postdoc
As a postdoctoral researcher I’m curious about how skin bacteria influence arbovirus infections right after a mosquito bite. This could lead to innovative tools to target pathogens or create beneficial environments that promote health and reduce disease. I’m also greatly fascinated by how mosquito microbes impact vector competence. Before diving into the world of viruses and mosquito bites, I conducted research on tsetse flies and their symbiotic bacteria during my PhD with an IWT grant at the Institute of Tropical Medicine. My scientific journey has also taken me to the R&D group of diagnostics at Biocartis. When I’m not unraveling the mysteries of science, you can find me hiking, biking, or swimming. Curious to learn more about arbovirus infections, skin bacteria, or insect microbiomes? Connect with me on LinkedIn!
Ana Lucia Rosales Rosas
PhD student
Hi! I’m Ana, I received my master’s degree in Biology at the KU Leuven in 2020. I had the chance to join the lab for my master’s thesis project, studying the virome of Belgian mosquitoes. Currently, as a PhD student my goal is to study how we can stop arbovirus infection and replication at the level of the mosquito by using antiviral drugs
Alina Soto
PhD student
I’m interested in understanding how the mosquito virome affects arbovirus transmission. Specifically, are endogenous mosquito viruses influencing arboviral success in the mosquito host? And is it possible to study these interactions using a virus-free mosquito model?
Sanon Aboubakar
PhD student
I am an international student from West Africa, Burkina Faso. I obtained my master in Medical entomology from Universite Joseph Ki-Zerbo. I am a PhD Student in the Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy at the Rega Institute for Medical Research. My current thesis concerns the vector competence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in arbovirus transmission. So far, I would like to research the interplay between pathogen and vector in addition to its implication to vector competency to mediate pathogen transmission. Because we are dedicated to research on Vector competence, my expected results would fill the lack of knowledge on the vector competence and contribute to establish a novel application to control the disease transmission by mosquitoes.
Sam Verwimp
PhD student
Hi, I’m Sam! I recently obtained my master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at KU Leuven. For my master’s thesis, I was able to join the group of Prof. Leen Delang. My project involved studying the interactions between arboviruses and skin microbiota using in vitro experiments and in vivo mouse models. Furthermore, I worked on an ex vivo model of mouse skin to further characterize these interactions. I now got the opportunity to start my PhD in the group of Prof. Delang and continue my interesting research.
Cédric Van Dun
PhD student
Hello, my name is Cédric!
I obtained my master’s degree in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the University of Antwerp in 2023, after which I had the opportunity to join the Delang Lab as a PhD student. My projects mainly involve the research of antiviral compounds against alphaviruses, as well as elucidating their tropism within the mosquito midgut.
Kristien Minner
Lab technician
Hello, I’m Kristien.
As a lab technician I started working at the center of human genetics (UZ Leuven) to optimize new diagnostic tests, executing diagnostic testing on clinical samples and assisting the research on breast cancer and colon cancer. Some of the techniques I used: DNA & RNA extractions from blood and tissues, PCR, sequencing, dot blot, reverse dot blot,…
In 2002, I started working at the Rega Institute (KU Leuven) where I supported the research on enzym/proteïn-drug interaction and drug resistance in HIV and HSV, cytoplasmatic transport in cells and CRISPR technology. Techniques I used were cloning, site-specific mutagenesis, protein isolation, FPLC, kinetics, tritium release, western blot, cell culture, transfection, transduction, immunostainings, CRISPR, incucyte, FACS,…
Recently, I joined the group of Prof. Leen Delang where I can apply my previous obtained expertise to contribute to the research on in vitro arbovirus infections as well as working with bacteria and mosquitoes. For this, I use following techniques: qPCR (viral load), cytopathic-based titrations (infectious virus), cell culture, site-specific mutagenesis, etc…
In my free time I love to sing, play the piano, play tennis and travel.
Ana Paula Pinto
Lab technician
Hello, I’m Ana Paula! I joined Prof. Delang’s research group as a lab technician👩🏻🔬. With a background in entomology and microbiology (PhD in Agronomic Sciences and MSc in Health, Food and Environmental Security in Agribusiness), I’m passionate about insects🐞and science🔬. My primary responsibility is to assist with the practical aspects of experiments from our brilliant research team🌟 in different techniques such as cell culture🧪, insect rearing🦟, animal handling🐁, virus/antivirus investigation🦠, DNA/RNA analysis🧬, bacteria culture🧫, mosquito dissection🦟, and field collection. I look forward to contributing to and learning from our dynamic team🔬.
Driven by curiosity🔎, guided by science📚!
Alumni
- Lotte Wauters, master student Biological Sciences, KU Leuven.
- Julia Zajac, master student Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven.
- Dr. Lanjiao Wang, postdoc.
- Alekxander Binderup, visiting PhD student, University of Copenhagen.
- Louna Haliche, master student Aix-Marseille Université.
- Ann-Sophie Devlies, master student Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven.
- Véronique Van Santvliet, master student Medicine, KU Leuven.
- Dr. Lana Langendries, PhD student: currently in house CRA at Labcorp Drug Development, Zaventem, Belgium.
- Dr. Rana Abdelnabi, postdoc: currently postdoc in the Neyts lab.
- Zaki Khoiriyah, master student, University of Wageningen.
- Celine Van de Wiele, student researcher Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven.
- Nikki Adriaens, master student Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven: currently PhD student at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Sarah Goossens, master student Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven: currently PhD student at ScienSano, Belgium.
- Laure Remue, PhD student: currently assistant CEO Choice Juwelen.
- Hennes Peeters, master student Medical Sciences, KU Leuven.
- Mathias Vanwinkel, student researcher Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven.
- Kayla Van Hoof, student researcher Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven.
- Dr. Sofie Jacobs, PhD student: currently postdoc at Janssen Pharmaceutica, Beerse.
- Johanna Bouckaert, student researcher Pharmaceutical Sciences, KU Leuven: currently PhD student at the Institute for Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Joyce van Bree, master student: currently PhD student at the University of Wageningen, Netherlands.
- Nikki van den Bosch, bachelor thesis student UCLL.
- Thuc Do Nguyen, master student: currently PhD student in the Neyts team at the University of Leuven, Belgium.
- Ahmed Mohamed Elrefaey, master student: currently research scientist in the Arthropod Genetics group at The Pirbright Institute, UK.