>Spike protein exhibited the highest binding to human (h)ACE2 of all the species tested, forming the highest number of hydrogen bonds with hACE2. Interestingly, pangolin ACE2 showed the next highest binding affinity despite having a relatively low sequence homology, whereas the affinity of monkey ACE2 was much lower despite its high sequence similarity to hACE2. [0]
From the paper in question.
Exactly what we'd expect for a virus in humans that was previously in pangolins which is the natural origin theory right? The spike protein works in humans because if it didn't we'd never get it and no one would be researching it.
[0] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-92388-5#Abs1
