What disease is primarily caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of tuberculosis, a serious infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs but can also impact other parts of the body. The bacterium is known for its ability to evade the host's immune response, leading to chronic inflammation and the formation of granulomas in lung tissue. Symptoms of tuberculosis include a persistent cough, chest pain, and weight loss, among others.

Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles released when an infected person coughs or sneezes, making it highly contagious. While other respiratory conditions such as pneumonia and bronchitis can involve similar symptoms, they are caused by different types of bacteria or viruses and are not directly related to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Lung cancer, on the other hand, is a malignancy resulting primarily from factors like smoking and exposure to carcinogens, and it is not caused by infectious agents like tuberculosis. Therefore, the option that correctly identifies the disease caused specifically by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is tuberculosis.