Symbiotic nutrient exchange enhances the long-term survival of cassiosomes, the autonomous stinging-cell structures of Cassiopea

Medusae of the widely distributed upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea release autonomous, mobile stinging structures. These so-called cassiosomes play a role in predator defense and prey capture, and are major contributors to “contactless” stinging incidents in (sub-)tropical shallow waters. While the presence of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates in cassiosomes has previously been observed, their potential contribution to the metabolism and long-term survival of cassiosomes is unknown. Combining stable isotope labeling and correlative scanning electron microscopy and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging with a long-term in vitro experiment, our study reveals a mutualistic symbiosis based on nutritional exchanges in dinoflagellate-bearing cassiosomes. We show that organic carbon input from the dinoflagellates fuels the metabolism of the host tissue and enables anabolic nitrogen assimilation. This symbiotic nutrient exchange enhances the life span of cassiosomes for at least one month in vitro. Overall, our study demonstrates that cassiosomes, in analogy with Cassiopea medusae, are photosymbiotic holobionts. Cassiosomes, which are easily accessible under aquarium conditions, promise to be a powerful new miniaturized model system for in-depth ultrastructural and molecular investigation of cnidarian photosymbioses. IMPORTANCE The upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea releases autonomous tissue structures, which are a major cause of contactless stinging incidents in (sub-) tropical coastal waters. These so-called cassiosomes frequently harbor algal symbionts, yet their role in cassiosome functioning and survival is unknown. Our results show that cassiosomes are metabolically active and supported by algal symbionts. Algal photosynthesis enhances the cassiosomes long-term survival in the light. This functional understanding of cassiosomes thereby contributes to explaining the prevalence of contactless stinging incidents and the ecological success of some Cassiopea species. Finally, we show that cassiosomes are miniaturized symbiotic holobionts that can be used to study host-microbe interactions in a simplified system.