The ubiquitous human BK and JC polyomaviruses cause the diseases polyomavirus-associated nephropathy, hemoragic cystitis and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in immunosuppressed patients. There are no antiviral drugs for these diseases which often lead to kidney graft loss, severe disability and premature death. As a first step in the evaluation of the malaria drug artesunate as a future ...