The article reviews the origin and evolution of two highly pathogenic coronaviruses, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, which emerged in humans at the beginning of the 21st century. Both viruses likely originated in bats and have been genetically diverse in bat populations worldwide. SARS-CoV primarily infects ciliated bronchial epithelial cells and type II pneumocytes using angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor, while MERS-CoV infects unciliated bronchial epithelial cells and type II pneumocytes using dipetidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) as a receptor. The article discusses the ecological distribution, genetic diversity, interspecies transmission, and potential for pathogenesis of these viruses in bats, emphasizing the importance of understanding their evolution to prepare for future spillover events. It highlights the recent spillover of swine acute diarrhoea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) from bats to pigs, underscoring the need for continued research on bat-borne coronaviruses. The article also explores the receptor usage and mutations affecting host specificity in SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, providing insights into their transmission and pathogenicity.The article reviews the origin and evolution of two highly pathogenic coronaviruses, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, which emerged in humans at the beginning of the 21st century. Both viruses likely originated in bats and have been genetically diverse in bat populations worldwide. SARS-CoV primarily infects ciliated bronchial epithelial cells and type II pneumocytes using angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor, while MERS-CoV infects unciliated bronchial epithelial cells and type II pneumocytes using dipetidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) as a receptor. The article discusses the ecological distribution, genetic diversity, interspecies transmission, and potential for pathogenesis of these viruses in bats, emphasizing the importance of understanding their evolution to prepare for future spillover events. It highlights the recent spillover of swine acute diarrhoea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) from bats to pigs, underscoring the need for continued research on bat-borne coronaviruses. The article also explores the receptor usage and mutations affecting host specificity in SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, providing insights into their transmission and pathogenicity.