An aniline-utilizing microorganism identified as a species of Pseudomonas was isolated from soil contaminated highly with aniline and urea-herbicide. This strain was able to utilize aniline as the sole source of carbon and energy, and was shown to harbor a single large plasmid mediating the aniline assimilation. Subsequent plasmid-curing of this bacterium resulted in the abolishment of the aniline utilizing phenotype and the loss of catechol-C2,3O-oxygenase. The reestablishment of the plasmid, denoted pB10, in cured Pseudomonas sp. via filter surface mating, resulted in restoration of the aniline assimilation abilities and enzyme activity.