Bat hepadnaviruses and the origins of primate hepatitis B viruses

- Bat hepadnaviruses are genetically more diverse than other extant hepadnaviruses.
- Ancestral hepadnaviruses are present in diverse chiropteran clades.
- Hepadnavirus host switches likely occurred within primates and bats.
- Primates may have acquired hepadnaviruses from bats.
- Major parts of orthohepadnavirus evolution took place in the New World.