The internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements from porcine enterovirus 8 and simian virus 2, two members of a proposed new genus within the family Picornaviridae, were characterized. These IRES elements, in common with the porcine teschovirus 1 IRES, were found to be related functionally and structurally to the IRES element from Hepatitis C virus, a member of the family Flaviviridae. Partial secondary structure predictions were derived and functional assays demonstrated that these IRES elements continued to be active when eIF4G was cleaved and when the activity of eIF4A was blocked.