Prof. Dr. Hans Nauwynck is the director of the Laboratory of Virology. With 20 years of experience in the field of viral shrimp infections, he uses his expertise on pathogenesis and control of viral diseases to identify and document the way White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) infects and kills its host. Recently, his research group demonstrated that WSSV has difficulties to infect shrimp by oral route and by immersion but can easily infect via the nephrocomplex. They were also succesfull in developing shrimp cell cultures and in unraveling the WSSV replication cycle.

Prof. Dr. Hans Nauwynck was also actively involved in the establishment of the UGent spin-off IMAQUA and the UGent spin-off PathoSense. He has several patents and concerning aquaculture he owns a patent on the entry of pathogens through the antennal gland.

Prof. Dr. Hans Nauwynck lectures several courses on viral diseases in mammals. His research focuses on cellular and molecular pathogenesis of viral diseases in man and animal, with special emphasis on:

• The entry of the virus in its host with special emphasis on the primary target cell;
• The invasion of viruses in its host through barriers, via leukocytes and along neurons;
• The escape of viruses from immunity.