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SARS-CoV-2-related viruses the closest SARS-CoV-2 bat-borne genome still remains the one from R. affinis, RaTG13, with 96.1% identity at the whole-genome level. Since its appearance in humans, SARS-CoV-2 has evolved through sporadic mutations and recombination events14, some of which correspond to gains in fitness allowing the virus to spread more widely, or to escape neutralizing antibodies. The spike sequence seems essential, as it determines the binding affinity and accessibility of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) to the cellular ACE2 receptor and is therefore responsible for host range. And the SARS-CoV-2 RBD binds to R. macrotis ACE2 with a lower affinity than to hACE2 .