Virologists started studying bat coronaviruses earnest turned source SARS1 MERS epidemics.In particular , researchers wanted understand changes needed occur bat virus ’ spike proteins could infect people.Researchers Wuhan Institute Virology , led China ’ leading expert bat viruses , Shi Zheng-li “ Bat Lady , ” mounted frequent expeditions bat-infested caves Yunnan southern China collected around hundred different bat coronaviruses.Shi teamed Ralph S. Baric , eminent coronavirus researcher University North Carolina.Their work focused enhancing ability bat viruses attack humans “ examine emergence potential ( , potential infect humans ) circulating bat CoVs [ coronaviruses ] . ” In pursuit aim , November 2015 created novel virus taking backbone SARS1 virus replacing spike protein one bat virus ( known SHC014-CoV ) .