A preparation of infectious recombinant influenza viruses prepared in the absence of an auxiliary virus from cells contacted with a composition comprising a plurality of orthomyxovirus vectors, comprising: (i) a vector comprising a promoter linked in a manner operative to a influenza virus PA cDNA and linked to a transcription termination sequence, (ii) a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a flu virus PB1 cDNA and linked to a sequence termination of transcription, (iii) a vector comprising a promoter operatively linked to a flu virus PB2 cDNA and linked to a transcription termination sequence, (iv) a vector comprising a linked promoter operatively to an influenza virus HA cDNA and linked to a transcription termination sequence, (v) a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to an NP virus cDNA of influenza and linked to a transcription termination sequence, (vi) a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to an influenza cDNA NA cDNA and linked to a transcription termination sequence, (vii ) a vector comprising a promoter operatively linked to an influenza M virus cDNA and linked to a transcription termination sequence, (viii) a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to an NS cDNA of the influenza virus and linked to a transcription termination sequence, (ix) a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a segment of DNA encoding a influenza virus PA polypeptide and linked to a sequence of termination of transcription, (x) a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a segment of DNA encoding a flu virus PB1 polypeptide and linked to a transcription termination sequence, (xi) a vector thatcomprises a promoter operatively linked to a segment of DNA encoding a flu virus PB2 polypeptide and linked to a transcription termination sequence, and (xii) a vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a segment of DNA encoding an influenza virus NP polypeptide and linked to a transcription termination sequence wherein said preparation is i
