They also determined that both HCoV-NL63 and, less
efficiently, SARS-CoV and a civet coronavirus, HCSC6103, were capable of
infecting and replicating in these North American primary bat lung cells, and
therefore probably recognize ACE2-like molecules from a range of mammalian
hosts. “These observations support the hypothesis that human coronaviruses are
capable of establishing zoonotic–reverse zoonotic transmission cycles that may
allow some coronaviruses to readily circulate and exchange genetic material between
strains found in bats and other mammals, including humans,” the authors
concluded