Current understanding of SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease inhibitors

The spread of SARS-CoV-2 has been the cause of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, which has increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 has two proteases that play an essential role in its spread, promoting replication by cleaving viral polyproteins. One of these two proteases, PLpro suppresses the host immune response through deubiquitination and deISGylation. Since PLpro plays a vital role in viral spread, there is a need for research on therapeutic agents that target it. In this review, we identify and classify several types of PLpro inhibitors.