Bat virus clues to origins of Sars

Researchers have found strong evidence that the Sars virus originated in bats.

Two novel Sars-like coronaviruses were found in Chinese horseshoe bats which are closely related to the pathogen that infects humans.

Critically, the viruses infect human cells in the same way, binding to a receptor called ACE2.

This suggests coronaviruses could transfer directly from bats to humans, rather than via an intermediate species like civets as was previously thought.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24750897

Nature.com link here : http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature12711.html

I recall ebola being traced back to fruit bats too but they hadn't go as far as tracing where down the food chain the bats picked that up.