The most commonly used genes /loci/ for the study of DNA barcoding (1) in bacteria are 16S (rRNA), COI and cpn60 /UT/ and (2.) in protists are: ITS, COI and rbcL .
As you already know the primers should be universal (applicable for the broadest possible target taxonomic group). You can find some of the commonly used primers for 16S and cpn60 here: