Bacteriophage virion that has been released from its parental infected bacterium but has not yet adsorbed to another bacterium.
During single-step growth, virions do not become free post-eclipse until during the rise period. That is, phages that are found within their parental cell should not be described as free.
A phage should continue to be considered to be free following non-inactivating adsorption to non-bacterial materials such as soil particles or activated charcoal, i.e., as may be described as bound free phages. Phages particularly remain free, that is, so long as they are both adsorption capable and able to encounter bacteria such that adsorption can be accomplished.
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