A METHOD FOR SYNTHESIZING INFLUENZA VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES (VLPS) WITHIN A PLANT OR A PORTION OF A PLANT IS PROVIDED. THE METHOD INVOLVES EXPRESSION OF A NOVEL INFLUENZA HA PROTEIN IN PLANTS AND ITS PURIFICATION THE INVENTION IS ALSO DIRECTED TOWARDS A VLP COMPRISING INFLUENZA HA PROTEIN AND PLANTS LIPIDS. THE INVENTION IS ALSO DIRECTED TO A NUCLEIC ACID ENCODING IMPROVED INFLUENZA HA AS WELL AS VECTORS. THE VLPS MAY BE USED TO FORMULATE INFLUENZA VACCINES, OR MAY BE USED TO ENRICH EXISTING VACCINES.