Here are the key papers to look at:
the `classic' paper that you can get the main details and rules from
But, note that this model is far from perfect. See:
Basically, after implementing the basic model, I would like to explore with you how to change it from a synchronous to an asynchronous CA and obtain the same qualitative results -- this would be a better model of reality. Also, we could usefully do a proper sensitivity/robustness analysis of both the synchronous and asynchronous models.
Cellular automata are very easy, but there's not much very clear on the www for students new to it. But here are some lecture slides of mine, though needing much improvement. Also here is a survey, review paper on CAs .
For your literature review, I suggest you search google and scholar.google.com with terms like "modelling diseases", "cellular automata", "applications of cellular automata", etc. The aim of the project will be (unless we revise it, which of course may happen driven by either of us) to build a more robust and reliable CA-based model of HIV infection than is in the current state of the art. So lit review could look for existing models of HIV infection, and Cellular Automata models in general. In parallel, read the main Dos Santos paper, and ask me questions about how the CA works to help get you on the way to programming it when the lit review is done.