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Research
Our lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying gene amplifications and copy number variations (CNVs), two important classes of mutations that enable rapid evolutionary adaptation. These mutations play major roles in diverse biological processes and diseases, including cancer progression, antibiotic resistance, host-pathogen interactions, and environmental adaptation. Despite their broad significance, the fundamental mechanisms that generate and stabilize CNVs remain poorly understood across organisms. Our research aims to uncover these mechanisms while also developing new CNV-based applications, including genomic biomarkers for early disease detection and therapeutic monitoring. To study gene amplification and CNV evolution, we use genetically tractable bacterial model systems, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Acinetobacter baylyi. These systems allow us to combine classical genetics with modern approaches in molecular biology, microbiology, experimental evolution, genomics, statistics, and computational biology. Research projects in the lab are designed to be accessible to both undergraduate and Master’s students. Students receive multidisciplinary training while contributing to active research questions in microbial genetics and genome evolution. Students interested in joining the D.Reams Lab are encouraged to contact Dr. Drew Reams at [email protected]. to discuss available research opportunities. Undergraduate students seeking research experience should first review the teaching webpage for information about the BIO 180 course requirement prior to joining the lab. Publications
Our latest publication made the cover of the March 2023 issue of the journal Genetics. Artwork by Dr. Semarhy Quiñones-Soto. 
Cover Figure Legend: In a model system to study gene amplification mutations, a strain of the bacterium Acinetobacter baylyi is spread onto agar plates with the aromatic compound benzoate as the sole carbon source. While this strain is unable to grow on these plates, rare mutant colonies arise (cream color circles). These mutant cells (blue green ovals) nearly exclusively contain de novo amplification mutations (represented by the repeated dark orange rectangles) encompassing low expressed genes encoding enzymes involved in benzoate catabolism. Art by co-author Semarhy Quiñones-Soto, PhD.
Here's a link to our publication referenced by the journal cover:
Jennifer A Herrmann, Agata Koprowska, Tesa J Winters, Nancy Villanueva, Victoria D Nikityuk, Feini Pek, Elizabeth M Reis, Constancia Z Dominguez, Daniel Davis, Eric McPherson, Staci R Rocco, Cynthia Recendez, Shyla M Difuntorum, Kelly Faeth, Mario D Lopez, Habeeba M Awwad, Rola A Ghobashy, Lauren Cappiello, Ellen L Neidle, Semarhy Quiñones-Soto, Andrew B Reams (2022). Gene amplification mutations originate prior to selective stress in Acinetobacter baylyi. G3 Genes| Genomes| Genetics. doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkac327 Free access to our publications can be found using either of the following two sites: Lab Photos
D.REAMS lab students presenting four research posters at the 2025 Sac State Fall Forum. From left to right: Sydney Mencarini, Ana Andrade, Neda Wilson, Natalie Freestone, Eli Chakyrova, Diana Gamboa, Bella Lares, Hanna Franklin, and Dr. Drew Reams.
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Current Lab Members:
Drew Reams (Professor) Semarhy Quiñones (Co-Investigator) Victoria Nikityuk (Lecturer) Eli Chakyrova (Master's program) Neda Wilson (Master's program) Ryder Hilliard Natalie Freestone Ana Andrade Sydney Mencarini Diana Gamboa Bella Lares Zainab Anwar Jair Gonzales Madison Martinez Nicolette Samonte Julian Smith Al-Rafiq Lab Alumni: Alejandra Ahumada Malia Ancil Stephanie Avalos Renee Avila Habeeba Awwad Emily Barentson Katherine Bennett Sam Cabral Itzel Cardozo Janeé Carter Desiree Caruthers Shannon Clayton Maggie Cortez Lance "Teo" Courtney Daniel Davis Kristen DeBacker Shyla Difuntorum Constancia Dominguez Kelly Faeth Hanna Franklin Jaime Fuentes Heather "Andy" Geyer Rola Ghobashy Caitlin Harris Jennifer Herrmann Agata Koprowska Gerard LaBlue Cody Lee Katlyn Lewis Mario Lopez Eric McPherson Genna Meisner Anthony Milani Raylene Olmos Feini Pek Rebecca Preto Lorence Ramazzini Cynthia Recendez Elizabeth Reis Paul Riling Staci Rocco Sophia Romero Josephine Sami Samantha Sanchez Jennifer Serrano Ayesha Shabbir Reyna Sharma Heidi Solis Ryan Staley Jasmin Suazo Abraham Sugay Daniela Tapia-Acosta Glenn Tseng Lamrot Tulu Mariela Vega Nancy Villanueva Nathalie Villegas Austin Widdershoven Tesa Winters Sinai Yoo |
D.REAMS undergraduate researcher Ana Andrade earned 2nd place for her oral presentation at the 2026 Spring Symposium.
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Undergraduate researcher Ryder Hilliard presenting his research at the 2026 Spring Symposium.
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Undergraduate researcher Diana Gamboa presenting her research at the 2026 Spring Symposium.
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D.REAMS master's student Eli Chakyrova presenting her research at the 2025 Fall Forum.
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D.REAMS undergraduate researchers Sydney Mencarini and Ana Andrade presenting their research at the 2025 Fall Forum.
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D.REAMS undergraduate researcher Ryder Hilliard presenting his work at the 2025 ASM Microbe Conference in Los Angeles, CA,
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Undergraduate researchers Bella Lares and Diana Gamboa presenting a research poster at the 2025 Fall Forum.
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Stingers up! Dr. Quiñones-Soto (middle) reunites with two former lab members: Heidi Solis (left) is currently a graduate student in the Pharmacology and Molecular Medicine PhD program at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Josephine Sami (right) earned her PhD and is currently employed as a Scientist for Pasture Biosciences in San Francisco, CA. Photo taken at NDiSTEM Conference in Phoenix, AZ during October 2024.
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Master's student Hanna Franklin won first place at the 2024 CSU (Statewide) Student Research Competition, an annual event that brings together scholars from all 23 CSU campuses. Hanna was also a finalist for the Don Eden Award for her research presentation at the CSU Biotechnology Symposium in Santa Clara, CA during January 2024. The following March she won a first place award for her research talk at the Sacramento State Spring Symposium. Photo by Kyle Chesser (Hands on Studio).
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Natalie Freestone (left) and Ryder Hilliard (middle) with Dr. Reams (right) at the 2025 CSUS Spring Symposium Award Ceremony. Natalie and Ryder won first and second place awards, respectively, for their Spring Symposium research presentations.
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Ryder Hilliard presented his research at the 2025 CSUS Spring Symposium, winning a second place award.
Natalie Freestone presented her research at the 2025 CSUS Spring Symposium, winning a first place award. As a result, Natalie was invited to present at the 2025 CSU (Statewide) Student Research Competition, an annual event that brings together top scholars for all 23 CSU campuses.
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Ryder Hilliard presented his research at the NDiSTEM Conference in Phoenix, AZ, as well as the NSM Symposium and Fall Forum events at Sacramento State during October and November 2024.
Natalie Freestone presented her research at the NSM Symposium and Fall Forum events at Sacramento State during October and November 2024.
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Dr. Reams’ research team during Fall 2022 (from left to right) Dr. Drew Reams, Hanna Franklin, Victoria Nikityuk, Heidi Solis, Lorence Ramazzini, Feini Pek, Staci Rocco, Reyna Sharma, and Dr. Semarhy Quiñones-Soto
Malia Ancil presented her research at the NSM Symposium at Sacramento State during October 2024.
Staci Rocco presents her research at the NSM Research Symposium in October 2022. Staci is currently a PhD student at the University of Rochester, NY.
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Genna Meisner presented her research three times during 2023-2024 at Sacramento State NSM Symposium, Fall Forum, and Spring Symposium
Reyna Sharma presents her research at the NSM Research Symposium in October 2022. Reyna is currently enrolled in the Master's program at Keck Graduate Institute.
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Lorence Ramazzini presents his research at the NSM Research Symposium in October 2022
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Lorence Ramazzini performing research as part of the SURE program during summer 2022.
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Heidi Solis presented her research at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students (ABRCMS) in Anaheim during November 2022. Heidi is currently a PhD student at the University of Colorado - Anshutz Medical Campus.
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Agata Koprowska (left) & Nancy Villanueva (right) presented their research at the Sacramento State Fall Forum on Friday, November 5, 2021. Agata is now a certified Nursing Assistant and Nancy is a medical assisting student.
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Ayesha Shabbir won 2nd place for her research talk at the Student Research & Creative Activity Spring Symposium held on Monday, March 9 2020. Ayesha is now working as a researcher in the biotech industry.
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Daniel Davis (left) and Constancia Dominguez (right) presented their gene amplification research at the CSUPERB conference in Santa Clara, CA during January 2020. Daniel currently is a PhD student at UC Santa Cruz. Constancia received her Master's degree and currently works as a research scientistat the California Department of Public Health.
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Cynthia Recendez presented her research at the NSM Research Symposium in October 2019 and the CSUS Fall Forum in November 2019. Cynthia is currently enrolled in the CIRM Master's program at the UC Davis Institute of Regenerative Cures.
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Kelly Faeth presented her research at the CSUS Fall Forum in November 2019. Kelly is currently working for the California Department of Justice.
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Lamrot Tulu (left) and Tesa Winters (right) presented their research at the CSUS Fall Forum in November 2019. Lamrot received her Master's degree and currently works as a Genetic Counselor. Tesa also received her Master's degree and works for the state of California.
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Constancia Dominguez presented her research at the NSM Research Symposium in October 2019. Constancia received her Master's degree and currently employed as a research scientist at California Department of Public Health.
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Habeeba Awwad (left) and Rola Ghobashy (right) presented their iderophore and gene amplification research at the NSM Research Symposium and California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) conference in Orange County, CA in 2019. Habeeba received her Master's degree and currently works as a Genetic Counselor. Rola is a graduate student at California Health Sciences University.
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Daniel Davis presented his research at the NSM Research Symposium in October 2019. Daniel currently is a PhD student at UC Santa Cruz.
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Dr. Reams’ research team during Summer 2019 (from left to right) back row: Daniel Davis, Ryan Staley, Shyla Difuntorum, Dr. Drew Reams, Eric McPherson, Rola Ghobashy, Agata Koprowka; middle row: Dr. Semarhy Quiñones, Elizabeth Reis, Jennifer Herrmann, Charlotte Difuntorum, Habeeba Awwad, Lamrot Tulu, Cynthia Recendez; front row: Ayesha Shabbir, Kelly Faeth, Constancia Dominguez, Tesa Winters. Not in photo: Katie Bennett and Austin Widdershoven
Sam Cabral presented his gene amplification research at the 2017 Sac State Student Research Symposium
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Josephine Sami (left) and Elizabeth Reis (right) resented their gene amplification research at the 2016 California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) conference in Orange County, CA
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Dr. Reams’ research team during Spring 2017 (from left to right): Jennifer Herrmann (Chemistry major), Dr. Drew Reams (PI), Dr. Semarhy Quiñones-Soto (co-PI), Shannon Clayton (Biology major), Nathalie Villegas (Biology major), Elizabeth Reis (Masters student), and Samuel Cabral (Biology major).
