[Human Polyomaviruses].

Polyomaviruses belong to a group of viruses that has recently attracted the attention of many research groups. During 35 years, JC and BK viruses, known pathogens in immunocompromised patients, seemed to be the only human polyomaviruses. But in 2007, two other polyomaviruses, WU and KI, were isolated whose pathogenicity is still a matter of discussion. A year later, another human polyomavirus, associated with Merkel cell carcinoma, was identified, and seven more were described by the end of 2014. Some of them were found to be related to various diseases, others seem to be a part of the normal skin and mucosal microbiome. The article summarizes basic information about all so far described human polyomaviruses.