Molecular Detection and Genomic Characterization of Porcine Enterovirus G in Guangxi, China: Genotype Diversity, PLCP Insertions, and Recombination

Jiang, Kaiyi; Li, Bin; Wu, Xianhua; Zhao, Wen; Qin, Yibin; Zhao, Shuo; Chen, Zhongwei; Wang, Wenfeng; Duan, Qunpeng; Zhou, Yingning; Quan, Chenyu; Xu, Xinting; Chen, Tingting; Xu, Yilan; Su, Huimei; Yang, Xunye; Qin, Yang; Peng, Ying; He, Ying; Lu, Bingxia

doi:10.3390/v18070707

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Molecular Detection and Genomic Characterization of Porcine Enterovirus G in Guangxi, China: Genotype Diversity, PLCP Insertions, and Recombination

by

Kaiyi Jiang

^1,2,†

,

Bin Li

^2,†,

Xianhua Wu

^1,3,†,

Wen Zhao

^1,2,

Yibin Qin

^1,2,

Shuo Zhao

^1,2

,

Zhongwei Chen

²,

Wenfeng Wang

²,

Qunpeng Duan

^1,2,

Yingning Zhou

²,

Chenyu Quan

²,

Xinting Xu

²,

Tingting Chen

²,

Yilan Xu

²,

Huimei Su

²,

Xunye Yang

²,

Yang Qin

²,

Ying Peng

²,

Ying He

^2,* and

Bingxia Lu

^2,*

¹

College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China

²

Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology of Guangxi, Key Laboratory of China (Guangxi)-ASEAN Cross-Border Animal Disease Prevention and Control (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China), Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning 530001, China

³

Shengtang Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., Guangxi Nongken Yongxin Animal Husbandry Group, Liuzhou 545211, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Viruses 2026, 18(7), 707; https://doi.org/10.3390/v18070707 (registering DOI)

Submission received: 1 April 2026 / Revised: 17 June 2026 / Accepted: 18 June 2026 / Published: 26 June 2026

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Virus Discovery and Genetic Diversity: 2nd Edition)

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Abstract

Enterovirus G (EV-G) is an important enteric pathogen widely circulating in swine populations and is characterized by considerable genetic diversity and recombination potential. In recent years, recombinant EV-G strains carrying exogenous papain-like cysteine protease (PLCP) gene insertions have been increasingly reported; however, their genotype distribution and molecular characteristics in major pig-producing regions remain poorly understood. In this study, 356 clinical samples collected from Guangxi, southern China, between 2020 and 2025 were screened for EV-G, and 13 representative strains were subjected to whole-genome sequencing and sequence analysis. The overall EV-G positivity rate in Guangxi was 20.51% (73/356). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the 13 Guangxi EV-G strains were mainly classified into three genotypes, G1, G2, and G8, with G1 being the predominant genotype. Notably, PLCP gene insertions of 573–642 nt were identified at the 2C/3A junction in seven strains belonging to three distinct genotypes, G1, G2, and G8, demonstrating the cross-genotype distribution of PLCP insertions within a single geographic region. Phylogenetic analysis of the PLCP sequences demonstrated that all Guangxi-derived PLCP sequences clustered within the EV-G-PLCP clade and were clearly separated from the torovirus PLCP clade. Recombination analysis retained three potential recombination events with clearer combined support from RDP4 and SimPlot analyses, involving Guangxi strains GX3008, GX3022, and GX4292. Selection pressure analysis showed that the VP1 gene was overall under negative selection. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the co-circulation of multiple EV-G genotypes, the cross-genotype distribution of PLCP insertions, and the presence of potential recombination events in Guangxi. This study provides new evidence for understanding the genetic diversity, genomic plasticity, and regional molecular characteristics of EV-G, and also provides an important basis for future PLCP-related functional studies and continued EV-G surveillance.

Keywords: Enterovirus G; PLCP gene insertion; recombination; genetic diversity; phylogenetic analysis

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MDPI and ACS Style

Jiang, K.; Li, B.; Wu, X.; Zhao, W.; Qin, Y.; Zhao, S.; Chen, Z.; Wang, W.; Duan, Q.; Zhou, Y.; et al. Molecular Detection and Genomic Characterization of Porcine Enterovirus G in Guangxi, China: Genotype Diversity, PLCP Insertions, and Recombination. Viruses 2026, 18, 707. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18070707

AMA Style

Jiang K, Li B, Wu X, Zhao W, Qin Y, Zhao S, Chen Z, Wang W, Duan Q, Zhou Y, et al. Molecular Detection and Genomic Characterization of Porcine Enterovirus G in Guangxi, China: Genotype Diversity, PLCP Insertions, and Recombination. Viruses. 2026; 18(7):707. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18070707

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jiang, Kaiyi, Bin Li, Xianhua Wu, Wen Zhao, Yibin Qin, Shuo Zhao, Zhongwei Chen, Wenfeng Wang, Qunpeng Duan, Yingning Zhou, and et al. 2026. "Molecular Detection and Genomic Characterization of Porcine Enterovirus G in Guangxi, China: Genotype Diversity, PLCP Insertions, and Recombination" Viruses 18, no. 7: 707. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18070707

APA Style

Jiang, K., Li, B., Wu, X., Zhao, W., Qin, Y., Zhao, S., Chen, Z., Wang, W., Duan, Q., Zhou, Y., Quan, C., Xu, X., Chen, T., Xu, Y., Su, H., Yang, X., Qin, Y., Peng, Y., He, Y., & Lu, B. (2026). Molecular Detection and Genomic Characterization of Porcine Enterovirus G in Guangxi, China: Genotype Diversity, PLCP Insertions, and Recombination. Viruses, 18(7), 707. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18070707

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Molecular Detection and Genomic Characterization of Porcine Enterovirus G in Guangxi, China: Genotype Diversity, PLCP Insertions, and Recombination

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