Possible Bat Origin of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

Abstract

We showed that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is probably a novel recombinant virus. Its genome is closest to that of severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronaviruses from horseshoe bats, and its receptor-binding domain is closest to that of pangolin viruses. Its origin and direct ancestral viruses have not been identified.

Keywords

• severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• SARS-CoV-2
• viruses
• genomic analysis
• recombinant virus
• recombination