Recombinant influenza viruses and constructs and uses thereof

A recombinant type A influenza virus comprising a rearranged influenza type A viral genome segment 2, wherein the rearranged influenza type A viral genome segment 2 comprises:

• a) a first influenza type A viral genome segment, wherein the first influenza type A viral genome segment is influenza type A viral genome segment 2 which comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes PB1 and
• b) a portion of a second influenza type A viral genome segment, wherein the portion of the second influenza type A viral genome segment comprises the portion of influenza type A viral genome segment 8 comprising a nucleic acid sequence that encodes the influenza type A viral protein, NS2, wherein the NS2 nucleic acid sequence is removed from RNA segment 8 of the genome, wherein the NS2 nucleic acid sequence is downstream of the nucleic acid sequence that encodes PB1,
• wherein a cleavage site is present between the nucleic acid sequence that encodes PB1 and the NS2 nucleic acid sequence,
• wherein the cleavage site is a 2A-like-cis-acting hydrolase element (CHYSEL) site, and
• wherein the nucleic acid sequence that encodes PB1 and the NS2 nucleic acid sequence are co-translatable.