Sequencing Analysis of COI Genes Isolated from Vietnam’s Endemic Insect Species (Insecta: Plecoptera) for DNA Barcoding Database

The Insecta are the most diverse group of animals on the planet. The diversity of Plecoptera aquatic insect order is used as an environmental and ecological indicator. The study of endemic species is important for confirming the national biodiversity and contributing to the determination of national sovereignty. Despite Vietnam being a biodiversity hotspot, the number of known insect species remains limited. As a result, DNA barcoding has been used as a cutting-edge technique to efficiently and rapidly classify biological species. The Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene is widely regarded as a standard barcode for animal classification. In this study, we amplified and sequenced a portion of the COI gene fragment with a molecular weight of 710 bp for eight insect species belonging to the order Plecoptera, endemic to Vietnam. When compared to the previously published sequences of other Plecoptera species, the results of COI gene sequence analysis showed a high divergence of at least 9.9%. Molecular analysis of the studied species accurately demonstrated their endemism and morphological similarities. This study contributes to the development of a DNA barcoding database for endemic insects in Vietnam.